Hanwha Australia shares next-gen satellite technology with defence

Next-gen satellite technology is on the ADF’s radar and a South Korean conglomerate working in Geelong wants in, in a move set to bring more jobs.

As the Australian Defence Force looks to expand into nimble satellite communication, a South Korean conglomerate working in Geelong has partnered with a global provider of next-generation satellite technology.

Low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, already used by six million South Korean military devices and in other application worldwide, provides a relative low-cost and nimble alternative to expensive, large and hard to move satellites.

Hanwha Defense Australia managing director Richard Cho. Picture: Mark Wilson

A Hanwha Defense Australia spokeswoman said use of LEOs, as opposed to large satellites, was increasing because they are easier to transmit to and move in space.

“Think of it like a hybrid car; you’ve got the ability to use electricity or gas depending on where you are in the world and what you are doing,” the spokeswoman said.

Hanwha — also vying for up to $27bn of army manufacturing work it would complete in Geelong — has submitted to the ADF’s market survey as defence looks to add LEOs to its capability.

Hanwha has already won a $1bn army contract to manufacture self-propelled howitzer guns, and will build a $170m, 32,000sq m manufacturing facility at Avalon.

A Hanwha spokeswoman said LEOs were used by six million South Korean military devices.

“If something has GPS on it or... if something has the ability to communicate with something else, such as a tactical data link, it can be fed through (LEOs),” the spokeswoman said.

“The demand is only on the increase because everything is being connected into huge networks.”

Hanwha has invested $300m into low-orbit satellite provider OneWeb and the pair will attempt to combine Hanwha’s satellite antenna technology and OneWeb’s high-speed satellite network with an aim of providing to the Australian military.

In June 2020 Hanwha acquired UK-based satellite antenna developer Phasor Solutions to secure technology needed to connect several thousand satellites and control panels.

Hanwha Defense Australia managing director Richard Cho said the company wanted to expand its work into space.

“This is an important growth area for us,” Mr Cho said.

London-based OneWeb, which has a network of 428 low latency, high-speed satellites in space with some over the Arctic, wants to expand its network.

The ADF is yet to decided if it will buy into an existing LEO satellite network or develop its own. It has a separate program focusing on large geo-satellites.

Originally published as Hanwha Australia shares next-gen satellite technology with defence