Hanwha exploring South Korean defense constellation with MDA Space and Telesat

TAMPA, Fla. — South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Systems is partnering with Canada’s MDA Space to explore collaboration on the development of a defense satellite constellation for the Asian nation.

The companies announced an agreement Jan. 26 to assess using the satellite maker’s software-defined Aurora platform, which Canadian operator and anchor customer Telesat is leveraging for its Lightspeed low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband network.

Hanwha said it is also collaborating with Telesat on its sovereign satellite connectivity program, including potentially developing terminals compatible with its K-LEO defense network and Lightspeed, which is slated to begin initial services next year.

The Telesat agreement follows a letter of intent signed between the governments of Canada and South Korea to pursue cooperation on next-generation LEO communications and maritime platforms.

Hanwha and Telesat are also cooperating on Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project, with Hanwha planning to include multi-year Lightspeed services as part of its industrial and economic benefits proposal. The South Korean group is exploring the use of Lightspeed connectivity across various weapons and defense platforms as part of broader potential collaboration in the global defense market.

Jae-il Son, Hanwha’s CEO, described the memorandum of understanding with MDA Space as “an important first step in exploring collaboration with a global partner to advance” South Korea’s defense space capabilities. 

“We will continue to assess next-generation satellite solutions capable of addressing evolving operational requirements,” he added in a statement.

In 2021, Hanwha outlined plans to build and deploy up to 2,000 satellites by the end of the decade to connect urban cargo-delivery drones and passenger airplanes. The company was also an early investor in the OneWeb LEO broadband network that is now owned by France’s Eutelsat.

In December, SpaceX announced the availability of its Starlink LEO broadband services in South Korea after receiving regulatory approval, alongside OneWeb.