South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group is accelerating its integration into the global space sector, expanding competencies in satellite construction segments, start-up services, operation of ground systems and data processing services. The company aims to position itself as a provider of a full range of space solutions.
Dovdikovo: Hanwha Group is a global leader in the aerospace and defense industries, solar energy, of finance, construction, petrochemicals and robotics.
At the heart of this effort is Hanwha Systems, which is actively developing satellite technologies with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) following the successful launch of Korea's first self-developed small SAR satellite in December 2023 year. Unlike optical satellites, SAR systems use microwave radar, that is able to "see" through the clouds and work regardless of weather conditions and time of day, providing high-precision Earth observation and reconnaissance.
For reference: Hanwha Systems is a leading South Korean company, specializing in defense electronics, information technologies and space systems. It is a subsidiary of the Hanwha Aerospace conglomerate and develops control systems, radars, surveillance systems, avionics, and also invests in satellite technology.
The company is developing a new generation of small high-resolution SAR satellites, in particular, ultra-precise models, able to identify objects up to 15 centimeters from orbit. The new satellites have an integrated design, which combines the payload, housing and solar panels, which allows more efficient use of launch opportunities and lower costs. The launch of such a satellite is planned for this year. A mobile ground station has also been created, equipped with satellite image analysis systems based on artificial intelligence, which can work in combat conditions, even when the fixed communication infrastructure is damaged.
In the future, the company plans to independently manufacture key components of satellites, in particular antenna systems, to get rid of technological dependence on foreign suppliers. This step will strengthen national security and give impetus to the development of the national space industry. In addition to hardware, Hanwha is expanding its activities in the field of satellite data, integrating artificial intelligence into its space platforms. High-resolution images are analyzed in near real-time using AI, which allows for quick detection of anomalies and transmission of intelligence information to control systems.
Source: https://www.koreaherald.com