Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has awarded a contract to Korea’s local defense company Hanwha Systems and LIG Nex1 to provide ground communication terminals connected to the ANASIS-II (Army, Navy, Air Force Satellite Information System-II) military communications satellite.
The two companies are expected to manufacture eight different terrestrial fixed and vehicular communication equipment under two separate contracts. These equipment will operate jointly with ANASIS-II (launched into space in July 2020). The contract is worth US$742 million and will Run until 2025.
DAPA pointed out that the ground terminal will enhance the ANSIS-II system, and at the same time promote the development of South Korea’s local aerospace industry with 96% local content. The agency stated that 48 local companies specializing in antenna equipment, modems, and signal reception and transmission software are contributing to the plan.
DAPA first approved the mass production of land-based terminals in April 2021. South Korea will deploy a military communications network that provides “significantly improved performance” in terms of transmission capacity and can maintain security and continuity in the event of enemy interference and attacks Communication.
As early as September 2021, Hanwha Systems stated that it would build a network control system and manufacture portable ground terminals compatible with ANASIS-II satellites, while LIG Nex1 revealed that it would manufacture new terminals to improve data link transmission performance and security.
DAPA earlier announced that the government plans to invest US$13.5 billion in 10 years to promote the development of domestic defense-related space technology and reduce the country’s dependence on US reconnaissance assets.
At that time, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) also announced that starting from 2024, South Korea will independently develop and operate a new space launch vehicle (SLV) from the Naro Space Center in Gwanggyeong County.
The facility is operated by the state-run Korea Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (KARI), approximately 485 kilometers from Seoul. The announcement was made after MND’s National Defense Development Agency (ADD) revealed that it had successfully conducted combustion tests on a new solid propellant rocket motor.
The planned SLV will be used to launch reconnaissance micro-satellites into low-Earth orbit to provide early warning of “detection area anomalies”-it is understood that North Korea launches missiles and other major military activities.
Xiao Wu
