Hanwha will invest a total of 55 trillion won by 2040 in the aerospace and artificial intelligence (AI) industries to build an integrated space infrastructure that encompasses independent launch vehicles, satellite networks, and defense AI.
Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan announced the mid-to-long-term strategy, titled AI Space Power, at the National Report on the Development Vision for Advanced Industries in the Yeongnam Region held at Gyeongsang National University in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, today (July 3).
Hanwha plans to first focus on building an integrated space infrastructure based on independent launch vehicle and satellite technologies.
The system is designed to allow AI to analyze information collected from space, which will then lead to decision-making and operational execution by the South Korean military.
Hanwha Aerospace plans to invest approximately 23 trillion won in space launch vehicles.
The company will build assembly facilities and launch vehicle development testing facilities, and aims to secure independent space transportation capabilities by transitioning to commercial launches in the future.
Hanwha Systems will invest about 20 trillion won in ultra-low-orbit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, space AI data centers, and satellite communication networks.
The integrated space infrastructure will consist of a constellation of observation satellites at an altitude of 350 km, a space AI data center to be built at an altitude of 400 km, and a low-orbit satellite communication network deployed at an altitude of 900 km.
Hanwha Systems plans to operate 64 SAR satellites by 2031, and initiate services with 192 satellites for the low-orbit communication network before launching an additional 60 or more.
"The first step toward securing space sovereignty is the development of an independent launch vehicle," said Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan. "Through the development of an independent launch vehicle, Hanwha will ensure that South Korea possesses the capability to reach space at any time."
Hanwha will also invest more than 10 trillion won in strengthening its defense AI capabilities.
The company will build a defense AI data center in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, to integrate and analyze information collected from space, land, sea, and air.
Based on this, it will develop Defense OS, a combat-specialized defense AI model that learns and infers battlefield data.
Approximately 2 trillion won will be invested in the development of Defense OS by 2040.
With these investments, Hanwha plans to create an aerospace industry ecosystem centered in the Yeongnam region.
(Photo: Provided by the Blue House Photo Press Corps, Yonhap News)