Hanwha Systems Develops SAR Satellite Serving as the 'Eye of Space'

Contract for the Development of Verification Satellite in the 67.9 Billion KRW 'Micro Satellite System Development Project'

Hanwha Systems is partnering with the Agency for Defense Development to develop a SAR (high-performance imaging radar) satellite that will serve as the "eye in space."

On the 18th, Hanwha Systems announced that it signed a contract worth 67.9 billion KRW with the Agency for Defense Development to develop one SAR verification satellite under the "Micro Satellite System Development Project."

The Micro Satellite System Development Project involves developing and validating a SAR verification satellite, followed by mass production to develop a SAR constellation satellite. The goal is to develop a small, lightweight, high-performance SAR constellation satellite for quasi-real-time surveillance and observation of the entire Korean Peninsula and surrounding waters through space orbit testing. Once the constellation satellite development is complete, it will act as the "eye in space," detecting signs of crises and disaster threats across the Korean Peninsula without gaps.

Through this project, Hanwha Systems plans to develop a flight model of a micro SAR satellite to be launched into actual space by June 2027. Hanwha Systems possesses technologies for electro-optical, infrared, and SAR payloads, and is developing SAR sensors and data link systems, which are considered core technologies for military reconnaissance satellites.

In particular, the micro SAR satellite developed by Hanwha Systems is designed in a thin rectangular cuboid shape for both the payload and the main body, unlike conventional satellites, allowing for weight reduction.

This design enables loading the maximum number of satellites onto a single launch vehicle, reducing launch costs. The company also explained that by integrating multiple electronic components into a single module, they achieved weight reduction and miniaturization.

Kim Jeong-ho, Head of Hanwha Systems’ Aerospace Division, said, "As the civilian space era is fully underway, micro SAR satellites are gaining high value as security assets," adding, "We will successfully carry out the SAR verification satellite development project."