[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Launching Development of Ultra-Small Reconnaissance Satellites

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has decided to develop ultra-small reconnaissance satellites. They plan to secure five satellites capable of precisely observing objects as small as 1m on the ground.

The ADD announced its major research and development projects at the 50th anniversary event held on the 3rd at the Anheung Test Site in Taean, Chungnam. At this event, ADD revealed that since the end of last year, it has been developing a ground test model for an ultra-small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation system, which excels in cost-effectiveness and mobility. This is at the preliminary design stage, with the goal of completing development by November 2023. Unlike conventional satellites with cylindrical bodies and wing-shaped solar panels, the ultra-small SAR satellite has a rectangular shape measuring 3m in width and 70cm in height. The radar is located on the front, and the solar panels are on the back.

Weighing less than 66kg, the satellite offers a resolution of about 1m. It can observe objects as small as 1m on the ground with high resolution from an altitude of 510km, regardless of day or night and adverse weather conditions. If development succeeds, it is expected to be more mobile and lighter than the Finnish product, which is considered the best among ultra-small reconnaissance satellites developed so far (weighing 85kg with 1m resolution).

An ADD official explained, "To detect North Korea's mobile missile launchers or military abnormal signs of hostile countries, frequent and regular observation is necessary. For this purpose, the goal is to use ultra-small satellites under 100kg instead of large satellites to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance in a quasi-real-time concept."

If our military possesses all reconnaissance satellites, it will be possible to conduct independent operations without relying on U.S. strategic assets. This means taking a step closer to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) within the current administration's term.

Reconnaissance satellites, also called intelligence satellites, can maximize three-dimensional information collection capabilities on North Korea. In April 2002, the U.S. Ikonos satellite discovered that North Korea's Geumgangsan Dam had collapsed. Unlike broadcasting or communication satellites that orbit at a geostationary altitude of 36,000 km, reconnaissance satellites orbit at a low altitude of 300 to 500 km, detecting objects and movements on the ground. They orbit the Earth about 14.5 times a day at a speed of approximately 8 km per second.

The military established a domestic reconnaissance satellite development plan in April 2013, but the project has been delayed for over four years. Initially planned for independent military operation, the project drifted as the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Science and ICT joined, exposing disagreements over satellite control rights and operational purposes. According to inter-agency consultations so far, the Ministry of National Defense will exercise control rights over the reconnaissance satellites. It is reported that the collected information will be shared with the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Science and ICT. Before developing the reconnaissance satellites, the military considered leasing 4 to 5 satellites from European companies to fill the surveillance gap on North Korea. However, the countries involved expressed reluctance, and the plan did not materialize.

Ultimately, the military established an independent development plan. The reconnaissance satellite project (425 project) will invest 1.2214 trillion KRW to secure five satellites, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical (EO), and infrared (IR) satellites. Operational capability (ROC) improvements, such as enhanced resolution and transmission speed of satellite images and videos initially set in 2017, were also incorporated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.