CFRP 재활용을 통한 K-방산 진출 전략 연구: 발트 3국(라트비아, 리투아니아, 에스토니아)을 중심으로

A Study on Strategies for Entering the Korean Defense Industry Through CFRP Recycling: Focusing on the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia)

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a strategic framework enabling Korea’s defense industry to enter the Baltic States by deploying cost-efficient drones incorporating recycled carbon fiber– reinforced plastic (CFRP). Amid accelerated military modernization in the Baltic region under strict fiscal constraints, drones represent a particularly suitable defense asset. This study emphasizes the strategic role of CFRP in drone manufacturing and examines how recycled CFRP can contribute to cost reduction and supply-chain diversification. Ultimately, it seeks to align Korea’s industrial capabilities with the evolving defense requirements of the Baltic States. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts an interdisciplinary analytical framework integrating geopolitical analysis, defense-market assessment, and material-technology review. It first examines changes in the European security environment and their implications for Baltic defense procurement. It then analyzes drone-market trends and the strategic importance of CFRP in drone production. These analyses are synthesized to propose an FTA-based market-entry strategy utilizing recycled CFRP for drone exports to the Baltic region. Findings – The findings indicate that drones constitute a highly viable defense solution for the Baltic States due to their cost-effectiveness and operational flexibility. The application of recycled CFRP in drone manufacturing significantly reduces production costs and mitigates reliance on foreign carbon-fiber suppliers. Although recycled CFRP exhibits slightly lower mechanical performance than virgin carbon fiber, recent technological advancements enable its effective use in key drone components. The study further identifies stable waste-CFRP sourcing as a critical prerequisite and demonstrates that combining recycled-material utilization with FTA advantages enhances Korea’s competitiveness in emerging defense markets. Research implications or Originality – This study offers original contributions by integrating defenseexport strategy, sustainable material utilization, and FTA-based industrial cooperation within a unified analytical framework. It demonstrates that recycled CFRP can simultaneously enhance affordability and supply-chain resilience in drone production, providing Korea with a strategic pathway to mitigate its latecomer position in the global drone and carbon-materials industries. Moreover, the study highlights policy implications concerning the establishment of reliable waste-CFRP supply chains and the advancement of related material technologies, proposing a novel approach to diversifying Korea’s defense-export markets in alignment with the modernization needs of the Baltic States.