Space artificial intelligence (AI) comprehensive solution corporations TelePIX said on the 19th that it signed a contract to supply a high-resolution electro-optical (EO) camera system to the Hungarian government's national Earth observation satellite program "HULEO (Hungarian Low Earth Orbit)." The export volume is in the tens of millions of dollars.
The HULEO program is a national Earth observation satellite project led by the Hungarian government, aiming to secure independent satellite capabilities operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). Core processes such as design, integration, and testing of the satellite system will be carried out in Hungary, and some advanced technologies will be introduced through international cooperation. The HULEO satellite is expected to be used for environmental monitoring, mapping, infrastructure observation, and geospatial data-based analysis going forward. Overall management of the project is handled by space systems corporations REMRED Zrt. under Hungarian ICT and defense giant 4iG. REMRED is responsible for leading satellite system design and integration. TelePIX and REMRED held a ceremony to sign the cooperation and supply agreement at 4iG's headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, on the 6th.
The high-resolution electro-optical camera system supplied by TelePIX is a payload responsible for carrying out the satellite's core mission and is classified as high value-added equipment with a large share of the overall satellite system price. The company said the contract was concluded through an international competitive bidding process involving numerous global corporations in Europe, and that it was selected as the final supplier after passing certification and verification procedures (environmental testing, long-term operational stability assessment, etc.) in accordance with European space industry standards.
The roots of the camera technology applied to this contract began in domestic public research and development (R&D). Since 2015, the government has pursued the next-generation mid-sized satellite program with the goal of overseas exports, and the foundational technologies secured in the process led to the development of "National Territory Satellite No. 1." TelePIX received a transfer of some technologies related to high-resolution cameras from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) under the Korea AeroSpace Administration and succeeded in enhancing performance and commercializing them. In particular, TelePIX highlighted its strength in an internalized system that covers processes from design to parts manufacturing and assembly and testing.
In addition, it said that, with this contract as a starting point, it is discussing the potential export of an integrated data processing system that includes AI-based onboard processing and satellite image analysis solutions, in addition to supplying electro-optical payloads. The company is discussing ways to link the GPU-based AI onboard processor for satellites "TetraPLEX" and the AI satellite image analysis solution "SatCHAT," and is also reviewing the possibility of establishing a local joint venture (JV) in Hungary.
Chief Executive Seongick Cho of TelePIX said, "With the satellite technologies TelePIX has accumulated over time, we are set to take full part in a European government-led satellite project," adding, "We will boost competitiveness by combining high-resolution electro-optical technology with AI-based onboard processing capabilities." Jeon Seunghwan, head of global business at TelePIX, said, "This contract will be a starting point for securing mid- to long-term business opportunities in the European market beyond the supply of a single payload."
Meanwhile, TelePIX previously exported European sales rights for satellite images from the AI CubeSat "BlueBON," and signed a strategic agreement for cooperation and export of an onboard AI Edge Computing platform service with a Czech space software corporations. Recently, it passed a technology evaluation for a technology-exception listing and is preparing an initial public offering (IPO) with the goal of listing on KOSDAQ in the second half.