By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The final satellite in the ‘425 Reconnaissance Satellite’ program, which is South Korea's first surveillance and reconnaissance satellite project, have launched on October 2 (US time) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA.

Hanwha Systems announced that it supplied the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload for the program’s fifth satellite, following its contributions to satellites No. 2, 3 and 4.

While the program is led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Hanwha Systems’ role has been to produce and deliver the SAR payload, contributing to the realization of Korea’s independent reconnaissance-satellite capability.

The ‘425 program’ consists of one electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) reconnaissance satellite and four SAR satellites. The SAR satellites are designed to capture imagery regardless of time of day or weather conditions. Following the previously launched satellites from 1 to 4, this fifth satellite marks the completion of the constellation.

Unlike satellites 1 through 4, which involved technical collaboration with foreign companies, the fifth satellite achieved a higher level of domestic development. The SAR payload’s assembly, integration, and testing—as well as its key electronics modules and data link—were all developed domestically. Hanwha Systems emphasizes that this progress marks a major milestone for both national security and the competitiveness of Korea’s space industry.

Hanwha Systems’ SAR payload provides high-speed, high-capacity data links for stable image transmission and offers excellent all-weather, day-and-night reconnaissance performance. With revisit times allowing four to six observations per day over the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions, the system enables frequent re-imaging of specific areas.

Sung-Chan Song, Head of the Space Business Division at Hanwha Systems, said, “We’re proud to be part of this significant journey toward Korea’s independent surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Moving forward, Hanwha Systems will build on our satellite technologies to help strengthen national security and advance the defense-space industry.”