A photo posted online in September 2023 went viral, showing a U.S. soldier on duty with a smartphone hung around his neck resting on his chest. While many would assume American troops use Apple's iPhone, the device was unexpectedly a Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Galaxy series model.
The device is the "Galaxy S23 Tactical Edition (TE)," a tactical smartphone jointly developed by Samsung Electronics and the U.S. Department of Defense. The phone features specialized functions for U.S. military tactical operations. It is the third military smartphone planned, developed, and supplied to the U.S. military in cooperation with the Pentagon.
The military edition is a specially manufactured product based on the Galaxy S23 model, with enhanced durability and tactical functions. General consumers cannot purchase the smartphone. Earlier, the "Galaxy S9 TE Edition" and "Galaxy S20 TE Edition" were produced in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
The S23 model operates normally even when submerged at a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. It can connect to tactical radios, drone feeds, laser rangefinders, and external GPS devices. It weighs 8.5 ounces (240 grams), making it relatively lightweight.
The phone is also equipped with Knox, which meets various U.S. government security standards. It protects classified data through dual data encryption based on U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) standards. It also includes a camera that allows soldiers to record and share video without revealing their location.
Key features include a "5G band lock mode" that minimizes security threats, a "stealth mode" that blocks wireless signals such as LTE and RF (radio frequency) for fully off-grid communication, and automatic "touch sensitivity adjustment" that allows screen operation while wearing gloves.
Samsung Electronics is reported to supply 12,000 to 13,000 units of the product to the U.S. military annually. Each unit is priced at $1,300 to $1,500 (approximately 1.96 to 2.26 million won). "We supply the devices customized to U.S. military specifications," a Samsung Electronics official said.
Unfortunately, while Samsung Electronics supplies the "military Galaxy" to the U.S. military, it has not been able to supply the device to the South Korean armed forces. The reason lies in the difference in security policies between the two militaries. The U.S. military permits software (SW) security, while the Korean military only allows hardware-based security.
The Korean military, based on regulations such as the "Defense Force Development Directive," recommends the use of hardware-based security systems such as embedded security chips for military operations. This is because, in the event of an enemy capturing a tactical phone, the physical encryption key must be removable from the device and capable of being destroyed.
As the importance of military smartphones, or "tactical phones," grows on the battlefield, the Korean military is also pushing to introduce Galaxy-based tactical phones by 2034. In this regard, the Army signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Samsung Electronics on May 6 to expand exchanges in advanced science and technology.
Through the MOU, the two parties will pursue practical cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation networks (5G/6G), and mobile security. The move is aimed at enabling the Army to adopt the "Samsung Galaxy Tactical Phone," which has already been introduced by the U.S. military and NATO members such as Germany for battlefield environments.
The two organizations plan to closely cooperate on advancing digital combat environments, including the development of mobile systems using AI technology, the establishment of 5G and 6G-based military mobile operating environments, the improvement of combatant situational awareness using smartphones, and the construction of intelligent decision support systems.
"We are pushing to introduce 5G-based tactical phones within the mobile integrated communication system, with a target of 2034," an Army official said. The Army plans to first complete requirements for the mobile integrated communication system for tactical phone use and verification of mobile software (SW) encryption applications by the end of 2027.
"We have established a development plan for the defense 5G-based mobile work execution system and are pushing to deploy Army tactical phones by 2034," a military official said. Until now, the Korean military has lagged in adopting tactical phones due to security concerns, forcing soldiers to carry out operations weighed down by various pieces of equipment.
When military smartphones are introduced to the Army in 2034, the "Galaxy S34 Edition," part of the Galaxy series scheduled for release in 2034, is expected to be adopted as the tactical phone. The National Assembly's Defense Committee has also introduced a proposed "Special Act on Software-Based Weapons Acquisition Systems" to support tactical phone adoption, which has been submitted to the assembly.
The Army plans to swiftly proceed with related procedures, including a Joint Chiefs of Staff decision, after the requirements are formally raised. Currently, the U.S. military and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) forces, including the German military, are using and developing Galaxy phones as tactical phones. The Israeli military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces are also rushing to adopt them.
