Hanwha Announces Entry into Global Military Space Internet Market... MOU for Participation in Australian Military Project

Hanwha Systems-Hanwha Defense-Wonweb Collaborate on Military Internet Project

Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Defense Australia, and OneWeb signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in participating in the Australian military satellite internet project at the 'Farnborough Airshow 2022' exhibition site on the 19th. From the left in the photo, Neil Masterson, CEO of OneWeb; Seongcheol Uh, CEO of Hanwha Systems; and Tim Pickford, Head of Business Development Strategy at Hanwha Defense Australia, are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Hanwha Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Defense, and global space internet leader OneWeb have joined forces to enter the "global military space internet market."

On the 19th (local time), Hanwha Systems announced on the 20th that it signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Defense Australia and OneWeb at the UK 'Farnborough Airshow 2022' to cooperate in participating in the Australian military satellite internet project.

Through this agreement, Hanwha Systems will be responsible for supplying vehicle satellite communication terminal solutions and system integration. Hanwha Defense will support system supply such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Redback armored vehicle, as well as local marketing in Australia. OneWeb will provide low Earth orbit satellite communication network services. The three companies plan to combine their core competencies to secure competitiveness for participation in the "Australian military satellite internet project." Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Defense Australia have already submitted proposals in response to the Australian Army's Request for Information for the satellite communication project 'LAND 4140.'

LAND 4140 is a multi-layered networking and communication system designed to provide the next-generation C4 system to the Australian Joint Ground Forces.

Going forward, Hanwha Systems plans to propose applying its self-invested satellite communication antennas combined with the low Earth orbit satellite communication services provided by OneWeb to various platforms of the Australian military.

In August last year, Hanwha Systems invested $300 million (approximately 345 billion KRW) in OneWeb, a global space internet leader, and is exploring ways to rapidly enter the space internet market by creating synergy with OneWeb through satellite manufacturing and low Earth orbit satellite communication service collaboration.

Prior to this, in June 2020, to secure technology for 'satellite communication antennas' that connect thousands of satellites and ground stations, Hanwha Systems acquired UK satellite communication antenna specialist Phasor Solutions and established Hanwha Phasor, currently focusing on designing and developing next-generation satellite communication antennas. In December 2020, it invested $30 million (approximately 33 billion KRW) in Kaimea, a US leader in electronically steered beam antennas, and in March this year, it made an additional investment of $11 million (approximately 13.3 billion KRW), forming a strategic partnership to jointly develop satellite communication antennas and pioneer domestic and international markets.

Hanwha Defense signed a 1 trillion KRW "first self-propelled howitzer supply contract" with the Australian government in December last year. It is also participating in the Australian future infantry fighting vehicle project, with the final contractor announcement expected this year.

Richard Cho, head of Hanwha Defense Australia, said, "We are pleased to pioneer the satellite communication field together with Hanwha Systems and OneWeb," adding, "This agreement will be an important stepping stone for the future growth of Hanwha Defense, Hanwha Systems, and OneWeb."

OneWeb is the first company in the world to launch low Earth orbit communication satellites and currently provides satellite internet services through 428 satellites. By the second half of next year, it plans to launch a total of 648 satellites to complete the construction of the 'first-generation satellite network' and expand its services.

Neil Masterson, CEO of OneWeb, said, "We are pleased to partner with Hanwha to promote our satellite communication service entry into the Australian defense market," and added, "We look forward to combining Hanwha's advanced technology with OneWeb's low Earth orbit satellite network technology to provide high-quality connectivity to customers worldwide."

Uh Seong-cheol, CEO of Hanwha Systems, said, "We expect this agreement to be an opportunity to achieve tangible results with global companies in which we have invested to enter the satellite internet market," adding, "We will continue to strengthen our global presence by cooperating with various companies with domestic and international technological competitiveness, targeting countries such as Saudi Arabia and Poland that require satellite internet."

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