SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has launched development of what it says will be South Korea’s first satellite semiconductor built entirely with domestic technology, marking a major step toward self-reliance in defense-oriented space systems.
The company said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute to co-develop “transceiver space semiconductor technology for (ultra) small-satellite multi-channel beamforming systems.”
The transceiver semiconductor will serve as a core component for South Korea’s planned military low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network, enabling stable ground-to-space links in extreme environments. Defense-grade semiconductors used in systems such as missiles and radar require far higher reliability and durability than commercial chips.
A key feature of the new device is its support for digital beamforming, which concentrates signals toward specific receivers rather than dispersing them. Digital processing enables precise, real-time beam control and offers more stable, high-speed and high-capacity communications than analog-based systems, the company said.
Designed with multiple channels to improve frequency efficiency and reduce space requirements, the semiconductor can operate with fewer components and can be mounted on small communications satellites.
Military LEO communications — sometimes described as “military space internet” — provide resilient, high-speed connectivity regardless of location. Operating at altitudes of 500 to 1,200 kilometers, LEO constellations can support stable communications during peacetime and act as a last-resort link during wartime.
Hanwha Systems in 2023 began work on a commercial LEO-based communications system tailored for South Korea’s military, integrating existing tactical networks with satellite links.
The new semiconductor program is expected to accelerate domestic production of LEO communications satellites, which currently rely heavily on U.S. and European technology.
“This development brings us closer to achieving a self-reliant K-space defense,” Hanwha Systems said in a press release. “Hanwha Systems is committed to advancing the localization of South Korea’s strategic space assets.”
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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