Wilco Exports Cheongung-II with Domestic Low-Dielectric 'NURI-35'

## Wilco's 'NURI-35' Takes Flight in K-Defense: Self-Sufficiency in Defense Electronic Materials, Onto the Global Stage! A new milestone has been set for South Korea's defense technology self-reliance. The key player is 'NURI-35', a low-dielectric copper clad laminate (CCL) material developed in-house by advanced materials startup Wilco. This innovative material is shaking up the market for core defense electronic materials, which had previously relied on overseas imports, and has now been fully integrated into the overseas export projects of Hanwha Systems' 'Cheongung-II Radar System'. Until now, CCL, a core component of high-frequency radar, was monopolized by a few advanced material companies in countries such as the United States, Japan, and Europe. In particular, the highest levels of reliability and performance demanded in the defense and aerospace sectors had been considered an untouchable domain for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises. The domestic defense industry was thus forced to rely on expensive imported products, which posed a significant hurdle to supply chain risk management and technological self-reliance. However, Wilco directly broke through these challenges. Based on its proprietary process technology and material design capabilities, it dismantled technological barriers and successfully established a mass production system. Wilco's 'NURI-35' is a high-frequency compatible CCL material boasting excellent characteristics of low dielectric constant (Dk 3.5) and low dielectric loss (Df 0.002). After undergoing rigorous and meticulous technical verification by Hanwha Systems and its partners, it received final approval for application in the Cheongung-II Multifunction Radar System. What is even more noteworthy is that NURI-35 has begun to be applied to Cheongung-II's overseas export volumes to countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant achievement as the first instance of a domestically produced low-dielectric electronic material being supplied for an overseas defense weapon system export project, and it will be recorded as a symbolic case that further strengthens the competitiveness of K-defense. It is a moment that goes beyond mere material localization, proving that South Korean technology is being recognized on the global stage. Park Sang-won, CEO of Wilco, stated that this journey was by no means easy, emphasizing a successful cooperation model between a large corporation and a startup. He remarked, "It is a very rigorous and difficult process for a large corporation like Hanwha Systems to apply a startup's material to an actual weapon system." Nevertheless, he expressed deep gratitude to Hanwha Systems officials who believed in Wilco's technology and potential and provided the opportunity for actual application. Building on this Cheongung-II case, Wilco has ambitious plans to expand NURI-35's technology into future advanced industrial sectors such as satellite communication, autonomous driving radar, and aerospace. Wilco's innovation goes beyond mere material development; it is becoming an encouraging signal demonstrating the healthy development potential of South Korea's advanced industrial ecosystem.