Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Defense and OneWeb Sign MOU for Australian Military Satellite Connectivity Services

On July 19 at the Farnborough International Airshow 2022 in the U.K., Hanwha Systems signed a three-party MOU with Hanwha Defense Australia and OneWeb, in a bid to tap into the global military satellite internet market.

As part of the three-way agreement, the parties will combine their key capabilities to develop technology for the Australian Military Satellite Tactical Internet Program. These include Hanwha Systems’ vehicle-type satellite communication terminals and system integration, Hanwha Defense’s armored vehicle platforms, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Redback, and OneWeb's low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services. Hanwha Defense Australia will also assist with local marketing. Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Defense Australia have also partnered before, having responded to the Australian military’s Request for Information (RFI) for the Land 4140 satellite communication project.

OneWeb, the global leader in satellite internet, is the world's first company to launch a low-orbit communication satellite. The company currently provides satellite internet service through its 428 deployed satellites and aims to expand its coverage and reach its initial 648-satellite internet constellation goal by the second half of 2023.

In the future, Hanwha Systems plans to combine the LEO satellite connectivity services provided by OneWeb with the satellite communication antenna Hanwha is developing through self-investment. After development, Hanwha Systems will propose applying this technology to various sectors of the Australian military. In August last year, Hanwha Systems invested $300 million in OneWeb.

To ensure the early acquisition of satellite communication antenna technology that connects thousands of satellites and terrestrial base stations, Hanwha Systems acquired Phasor Solutions, a British satellite communication antenna maker, in June 2020 and soon after established Hanwha Phasor. Hanwha Phasor’s focus is on the design and development of next-generation antennas.

In December 2020, Hanwha Systems made a $30 million investment in Kymeta, a leading Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) company in the U.S., which was followed by an additional investment in March this year worth $11 million. By forming a strategic partnership, the companies will collaborate on satellite communication antenna development and pioneer rapidly growing domestic and foreign LEO antenna markets.

Last December, Hanwha Defense Australia signed a $1 billion supply contract for LAND 8116 Phase 1 to acquire self-propelled howitzer (SPH) artillery systems for the Australian Army. The company will also participate in the bid for LAND 400 Phase 3, a program to acquire infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army. The winning bidder is scheduled to be announced this year.

“We are happy to work with Hanwha Systems and OneWeb to explore opportunities to expand our presence in the space industry,” said Richard Cho, Managing Director of Hanwha Defense Australia. “This agreement will be an important step for everyone’s future growth.”

“We are delighted to partner with Hanwha to utilize our satellite connectivity solutions in the Australian defense market,” commented Neil Masterson, CEO of OneWeb. “We know firsthand how Hanwha’s high-quality technological thinking and development complements the capabilities of OneWeb’s LEO network, ensuring customers worldwide benefit from improved connectivity.”

“Hanwha Systems expects this agreement to be an opportunity to create tangible outcomes with global companies that have made investments in the satellite internet market,” stated Sung-chul Eoh, CEO of Hanwha Systems. “Going forward, we will continue to strengthen our position in the global market, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia and Poland that have a need for satellite internet, through cooperation with technologically competitive companies around the world.”

On the same day, Hanwha Systems signed a $160 million contract with Hanwha Defense Australia to supply the company with the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and Situational Awareness System (SAS). Subsequently, Hanwha Defense Australia will provide these systems to the Australian military. These systems are utilized in the Australian military’s AS9 (K9) self-propelled howitzer and AS10 (K10) armored ammunition resupply vehicles. By supplying these systems to Hanwha Defense Australia, Hanwha Systems expanded its contribution to the self-propelled howitzer project through the provision of its advanced technology. Hanwha Systems’ participation in the self-propelled howitzer project was previously confined to the supply of the Gun Control Computer (GCC). However, through this partnership, the company developed and supplied two new products that use the latest Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA), and secured the technology and foundation to participate in various combat vehicle projects going forward.