Victek Expands Core Business Footprint... Now Manufacturing Satellite Components

Building Satellite Facilities at Headquarters... Establishing an Integrated Production System

Defense company victek has begun full-scale efforts in the satellite-related business. Until now, it has supplied power supply modules and power control and distribution units, which are core components of small SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, to Hanwha Systems, and it is now expanding its footprint by establishing an integrated production system for satellite components.

victek opened a satellite facility measuring 150 pyeong inside its Songdo headquarters building at 10:00 a.m. on the 22nd. The satellite facility is equipped with high-precision cleanrooms and dedicated manufacturing process equipment essential for producing space components. Photo by victek

According to victek on the 23rd, at 10 a.m. that day it opened a 150-pyeong satellite facility built inside its Songdo headquarters building. The satellite facility is equipped with high-precision cleanrooms and dedicated process equipment essential for the production of space components. victek also plans to introduce additional Surface Mount Technology (SMT) equipment for process technology, and once this facility is completed, the company will have established an integrated satellite component production system that covers everything from component design to final mass production.

The government is carrying out a next-generation dual-use ultra-small satellite system development project for both military and civilian purposes. It is an inter-ministerial cooperation project to build a satellite system that can quickly monitor crisis situations on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding waters and efficiently utilize the nation’s space assets.

The government aims to launch 40 ultra-small satellites. It plans to select a project operator within this year, and the leading candidate is defense company Hanwha Systems.

Hanwha Systems is highlighting the fact that it is the only company in Korea that possesses all EO (Electro-Optical), IR (Infrared), and SAR payload technologies, which correspond to the "eyes of the satellite." In particular, its SAR technology is a differentiating factor. By using radar waves, it enables observation that is less affected by day-night cycles and weather conditions, making it highly useful for military surveillance and reconnaissance. Hanwha Systems has presented a plan to launch a SAR satellite with 50 cm / 25 cm-class resolution within this year. It is currently developing a satellite with 15 cm-class resolution, and once development is completed, it could become a global top-tier product that surpasses the current best-in-class 25 cm level overseas. The company aims to secure an advantage in the bidding process by emphasizing its technological potential that exceeds the required specification of 50 cm.

If Hanwha Systems is selected as the small satellite manufacturer, continued growth is expected for its key partner victek. victek has already signed a supply contract with Hanwha Systems for power supply modules and power control and distribution units, which are core components of small satellites. In 2022, victek newly entered the electro-optical business and invested in advanced cleanrooms and dedicated equipment at its then-headquarters plant in Icheon. Electro-optical equipment such as thermal imaging units has now taken root as one of victek’s core flagship product lines.

victek CEO Lim Mankyu said, "The Songdo satellite facility is a base that will turn victek’s future growth engines into reality," adding, "Based on the technological capabilities we have proven over 35 years in the defense sector, we will establish ourselves as a strong small and medium-sized enterprise in the aerospace components market."