Latest news with #AgencyforDefenseDevelopment
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hanwha Systems wins W54.7b contract to develop radar for next-gen missile defense system
Hanwha Systems Co. said Tuesday it has been selected as the developer of a multifunction radar prototype for South Korea's next-generation long-range surface-to-air missile defense system. The company said it has won a 54.7 billion-won ($40 million) contract from the state-run Agency for Defense Development to develop a MFR prototype as part of the second phase of the L-SAM system upgrade. A MFR is responsible for real-time detection, tracking of multiple incoming targets and missile guidance. The prototype will be equipped with high-precision functionalities to extend the detection and tracking range for ballistic missile threats, surpassing those of the current L-SAM system. Hanwha Systems previously developed and supplied MFRs for the Cheongung and Cheongung-II systems. It is also the radar systems provider for the next-generation Korean destroyer KDDX and the homegrown KF-21 fighter jet. "We are committed to developing world-class, high-performance radar solutions to help the Korean military respond effectively to evolving aerial threats," said Park Hyuk, head of Hanwha Systems' defense electronics division. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Science
- Korea Herald
Seoul launches 4th spy satellite to boost NK surveillance
South Korea's military launched its fourth domestically developed spy satellite on Tuesday, advancing efforts to build a constellation of reconnaissance satellites aimed at enhancing the nation's capability to monitor North Korea and detect signs of potential provocations in real time. The satellite lifted off at 9:48 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by US space company SpaceX. It successfully separated from the launch vehicle approximately 15 minutes after liftoff and entered its designated orbit. Communication with a ground station was established 56 minutes later, confirming the satellite was functioning normally, according to the Defense Ministry and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The latest satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, the same technology used in the second and third satellites. SAR satellites transmit radio waves to the ground and capture the reflections to generate high-resolution images — a process that allows surveillance to continue regardless of cloud cover, weather conditions or time of day. Following the launch, the satellite will undergo a space-based performance test led by the Agency for Defense Development, followed by operational testing by the military. Once fully verified, the satellite will begin reconnaissance missions. With the addition of the fourth unit, South Korea's military now operates an increasingly integrated cluster of surveillance satellites. Officials say the system is expected to reduce the time it takes for satellites to revisit key locations, improving the military's ability to detect and respond to signs of North Korean provocations with greater speed and accuracy. 'The satellite was developed through close collaboration between the Agency for Defense Development and domestic companies under DAPA's program management,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Beyond enhancing military capability, this marks a meaningful step in building our own satellite development legacy in response to the growing strategic importance of space.' The ministry added it plans to complete its five-satellite network by 2025 — consisting of one electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) satellite and four SAR satellites — which will enable it to monitor specific targets in North Korea at two-hour intervals.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX launches Bandwagon-3 mission, rocket returns safely
Elon Musk's SpaceX launches Bandwagon-3 mission, rocket returns safely (Picture credit: X/@SpaceX) The second sonic boom of the day echoed across Florida's Space Coast on April 21 as a Falcon 9 booster safely returned to Cape Canaveral after lifting off with the Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission, SpaceX's third such launch offering small satellite deployment services. The evening liftoff at 8:48 pm ET from Space Launch Complex 40 marked the second Falcon 9 launch of the day, following the morning's CRS-32 cargo mission to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center. Within just hours, SpaceX demonstrated its increasing launch cadence and versatility. Bandwagon-3 carried three commercial payloads: 425Sat-3 from South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Tomorrow-S7 by Tomorrow Companies Inc , and the Phoenix 1 reentry capsule built by German firm Atmos Space Cargo . These missions reflect the growing appeal of SpaceX's rideshare services, which offer cost-effective access to orbit for small payloads without requiring full rocket bookings. According to Phoenix 1 is the first reentry capsule ever launched by a European company. It aims to test an inflatable atmospheric decelerator during its return journey, expected to splash down in the Atlantic roughly 1,200 miles off Brazil's coast after a single orbit. Atmos Space Cargo called the mission a step toward 'revolutionising space logistics' and enabling "microgravity research, in-orbit manufacturing, defense applications and life sciences." Meanwhile, Tomorrow Companies Inc. is developing a satellite constellation using AI and data to improve global weather resilience. Its Tomorrow-S7 payload is part of that initiative. The specifics of its mission remain closely held, reported Fox 35 Orlando. 425Sat-3 forms part of South Korea's broader 425 Project, which strengthens the country's military surveillance capabilities. After payload deployment, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster, flying for the third time after previously launching SES's O3b mPOWER-E and Nasa's Crew-10, returned to Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral, triggering a sonic boom that was heard across nearby areas, reported Florida Today. The Bandwagon series began in April 2024 and has since expanded SpaceX's ability to serve a variety of clients. To date, the company has launched over 1,130 small satellites for 130 customers under its rideshare program. SpaceX also operates a separate Transporter line of rideshare missions, which began in 2021 and still holds the single-launch record of 143 satellites. The next SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral is scheduled for no earlier than April 24 at 9:32 pm (local time), carrying Starlink 6-74 internet satellites. United Launch Alliance's Amazon Kuiper mission is also slated for liftoff from the Cape no earlier than April 28.
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Science
- Korea Herald
Seoul launches 4th spy satellite to boost surveillance on North Korea
South Korea's military launched its fourth domestically developed spy satellite on Tuesday, advancing efforts to build a constellation of reconnaissance satellites aimed at enhancing the nation's capability to monitor North Korea and detect signs of potential provocations in real time. The satellite lifted off at 9:48 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by US space company SpaceX. It successfully separated from the launch vehicle approximately 15 minutes after liftoff and entered its designated orbit. Communication with a ground station was established 56 minutes later, confirming the satellite was functioning normally, according to the Defense Ministry and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The latest satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, the same technology used in the second and third satellites. SAR satellites transmit radio waves to the ground and capture the reflections to generate high-resolution images — a process that allows surveillance to continue regardless of cloud cover, weather conditions, or time of day. Following the launch, the satellite will undergo a space-based performance test led by the Agency for Defense Development, followed by operational testing by the military. Once fully verified, the satellite will begin reconnaissance missions. With the addition of the fourth unit, South Korea's military now operates an increasingly integrated cluster of surveillance satellites. Officials say the system is expected to reduce the time it takes for satellites to revisit key locations, improving the military's ability to detect and respond to signs of North Korean provocations with greater speed and accuracy. 'The satellite was developed through close collaboration between the Agency for Defense Development and domestic companies under DAPA's program management,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Beyond enhancing military capability, this marks a meaningful step in building our own satellite development heritage, in response to the growing strategic importance of space.' The ministry added it plans to complete its five-satellite network by 2025 — consisting of one electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) satellite and four SAR satellites — which will enable it to monitor specific targets in North Korea at two-hour intervals. flylikekite@
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Science
- Korea Herald
Seoul launches 4th spy satellite to boost surveillance on North Korea
South Korea's military launched its fourth domestically developed spy satellite on Tuesday, advancing efforts to build a constellation of reconnaissance satellites aimed at enhancing the nation's capability to monitor North Korea and detect signs of potential provocations in real time. The satellite lifted off at 9:48 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by US space company SpaceX. It successfully separated from the launch vehicle approximately 15 minutes after liftoff and entered its designated orbit. Communication with a ground station was established 56 minutes later, confirming the satellite was functioning normally, according to the Defense Ministry and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The latest satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, the same technology used in the second and third satellites. SAR satellites transmit radio waves to the ground and capture the reflections to generate high-resolution images — a process that allows surveillance to continue regardless of cloud cover, weather conditions, or time of day. Following the launch, the satellite will undergo a space-based performance test led by the Agency for Defense Development, followed by operational testing by the military. Once fully verified, the satellite will begin reconnaissance missions. With the addition of the fourth unit, South Korea's military now operates an increasingly integrated cluster of surveillance satellites. Officials say the system is expected to reduce the time it takes for satellites to revisit key locations, improving the military's ability to detect and respond to signs of North Korean provocations with greater speed and accuracy. 'The satellite was developed through close collaboration between the Agency for Defense Development and domestic companies under DAPA's program management,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Beyond enhancing military capability, this marks a meaningful step in building our own satellite development heritage, in response to the growing strategic importance of space.' The ministry added it plans to complete its five-satellite network by 2025 — consisting of one electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) satellite and four SAR satellites — which will enable it to monitor specific targets in North Korea at two-hour intervals.
