The defense industry is watching as the government prepares to select a contractor to build ultra-small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites (under 150 kilograms) that will observe the Korean Peninsula every 20 to 30 minutes. In this project, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which has developed military satellites for the past 30 years and is seeking to keep its lead, and Hanwha Systems, which aims to further expand the space industry around the Jeju Space Center opened last year, have thrown their hats in the ring. With the private space era fast approaching, competition among domestic defense firms to secure the space sector is kicking into high gear.
According to the military and related authorities on the 17th, the core of the ultra-small satellite system development project is selecting the satellite model for 40 satellites to be launched sequentially starting late this year. These satellites will support the military's five reconnaissance satellites that revisit the Korean Peninsula every two hours (the 425 reconnaissance satellites), with the goal of shortening the revisit cycle to around 20 minutes. From development to launch, 1.2 trillion to 1.3 trillion won will be invested. Eight satellites will be loaded per launch vehicle and launched five times in total, with SpaceX handling launches one to three. The fourth launch will head to space aboard the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II).
Unlike the traditional contractor selection process for weapons systems, where full-scale development begins after a contract is awarded, the ultra-small SAR satellite project will proceed with each company first developing its satellite to just before launch readiness. The Korea AeroSpace Administration and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration will then evaluate the developed satellites and proposals to select a contractor to build 40 ultra-small satellites.
This is the first time a project is proceeding in a format where corporations develop satellites first. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration and others aim to select a contractor around Oct. and launch around Dec.
Industry watchers expect the key factor in this contractor selection to be lowering satellite production expense. From 1999 through last year's third next-generation mid-sized satellite carried by Nuri, state-led satellite programs were projects that "must succeed." They used only high-priced, "space-only" components costing more than 100 million won each.
However, despite the advantage of longer satellite lifespans, the astronomical production costs were a burden. By contrast, the ultra-small satellite program is directly tied to mass production. As the project is led by the private sector and also targets commercial satellite production, using commercial off-the-shelf parts or integrating payloads and buses are cited as key points to reduce expense.
KAI is designing its ultra-small satellites with numerous commercial components. For core components such as the central processing unit (CPU), which directly affect satellite lifespan, it will use highly reliable space-grade parts, but the plan is to also employ commercial components costing only a few hundred thousand won, similar to those used in automobiles.
A KAI official said, "Because this is a military reconnaissance asset, we chose highly reliable core components even if the development unit cost rises," adding, "But we will continue to source commercial components to lower the satellite's unit cost."
KAI's ultra-small satellite is being built in a hexahedral shape. This is to allow unrestricted observation of the Korean Peninsula regardless of the satellite's attitude in space. It also has advantages for heat dissipation. The design ensures that even a much smaller ultra-small satellite than traditional models can carry a high-power payload without impeding mission performance.
The satellite is currently being assembled, and from next month, testing and evaluation will begin at the environmental test center inside KAI's factory. KAI has teamed up with LIG Nex1. KAI is responsible for the satellite bus and system integration, while LIG Nex1 is in charge of the SAR radar.
The military's required operational capability (ROC) is said to be at the 50-centimeter level, and KAI and LIG Nex1 are also known to meet this level. Based on this technology, LIG Nex1 is also independently developing the ultra-high-resolution SAR satellite LIG SAT.
Hanwha Systems has formed a team with Satrec Initiative, which received investment from Hanwha Aerospace. Satrec Initiative participated in developing the 425 reconnaissance satellites currently operated by the military and has secured product reliability for military-supplied equipment.
Hanwha Systems and Satrec Initiative are putting forward a small SAR satellite with an integrated payload, bus, and solar panels. It is designed to integrate multiple components into one so the launch vehicle can carry as many as possible.
Hanwha Systems is also independently developing satellite payloads. The company's researchers said they developed a high-resolution SAR satellite last year that can identify objects as small as 25 centimeters, and they cite the fact that a 1-meter-resolution SAR satellite was launched in 2023 and is currently in operation as grounds for confidence in winning this project.
Observers say this project could be a turning point for Hanwha Group, which aims to secure the space value chain. If Hanwha Systems, which is accelerating satellite development around the Jeju Space Center opened last year, secures this project, it will be able to expand into the bus. Hanwha Systems has so far focused on payloads in military-related projects such as the 425 reconnaissance satellites.
Adding in the launch vehicle technology of Hanwha Aerospace, which successfully launched Nuri-4, Hanwha Group would be able to cover everything from satellite development to launch. In other words, it could launch satellites at any time.
A Hanwha Systems official said, "We are developing satellites from the 15-centimeter class to the 25-centimeter and 50-centimeter classes," adding, "In particular, the 25-centimeter and 50-centimeter class satellites are scheduled to launch this year."