Building a Portfolio of Observation, Surveillance, and Communication Satellites
"Expected to Support the Introduction of Advanced Overseas Technologies"
Hanwha Systems has recruited Kim Jong-jin, former executive director who worked on Amazon's space internet business, as the deputy director of its Space Research Institute to introduce advanced overseas technologies for low Earth orbit communication satellite payloads. The company plans to diversify its business portfolio by strengthening its communication satellite capabilities alongside its existing observation and surveillance satellite expertise. The communication satellite market is expected to grow to a scale of 400 trillion won in five years.
According to industry sources on the 30th, Hanwha Systems recruited Kim Jong-jin as deputy director of the Space Research Institute in March. Kim will work closely with Song Seong-chan, director (executive director) of the Space Research Institute, who joined when the aerospace business division was newly established in October 2022 and the Space Research Institute was created.
The recruitment of Deputy Director Kim was carried out to strengthen Hanwha Systems’ key satellite payload business portfolio. In December last year, Hanwha Systems succeeded in launching Korea’s first private observation satellite, the ‘small SAR satellite.’ On the 8th of last month, the company supplied payloads for a total of four synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, including Korea’s first independently developed reconnaissance satellite No. 2. It is also strengthening its defense low Earth orbit satellite system business. Utilizing the US startup OneWeb satellite network, Hanwha Systems is building the military’s first ‘commercial low Earth orbit satellite-based communication system’ that interoperates with the existing tactical networks of the army, navy, and air force.
In the communication satellite business, efforts are underway to internalize core technologies for low Earth orbit communication satellite payloads. Hanwha Systems already has the capability to produce advanced digital communication repeaters (OBP·On-Board Processor), electronically steerable antennas (ESA), and inter-satellite laser communication systems (ISL). The company is working to enhance performance by applying advanced overseas technologies to low Earth orbit communication satellite payloads. Deputy Director Kim was recruited to support the introduction of overseas source technologies.
Deputy Director Kim has experience participating in wireless communication businesses at LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics. Afterwards, he was involved in satellite payload development work in the United States. This means he is not just a network expert but a specialist who understands satellite payloads. Subsequently, he was responsible for research and development (R&D) at US space exploration company Blue Origin and Amazon’s space internet business ‘Kuiper Project.’
The communication satellite market has high growth potential. According to Mordor Intelligence, the communication satellite market is expected to grow from $193.3 billion (264 trillion won) this year to $297.3 billion (405 trillion won) by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.99%. This market includes low Earth orbit satellite communications, which gained attention for their significant role during the Russia-Ukraine war.
A Hanwha Systems official said, "With Deputy Director Kim joining, we expect to apply advanced overseas technologies related to satellite payloads in the OBP, ESA, and ISL systems currently under development for communication satellites."
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