The trio signed an MoU at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, which will see them combine the latter’s satellite internet services with a new Hanwha antenna currently under development.
OneWeb is currently scaling up its constellation to keep pace with Elon Musk’s own offering, with 428 satellites already deployed.
Hanwha Defense Australia’s managing director Richard Cho said, “We are happy to be working with our sister company HSC and with OneWeb to explore opportunities to expand our Australian footprint into the space domain. This is an important growth area for us.”
In particular, it’s hoped the MoU will identify how the companies can combine their core capabilities to achieve the competitiveness required for Australian Military Satellite Tactical Internet Program participation.
As outlined in a release from Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), the companies have identified the individual offerings they plan to leverage:
- Hanwha Systems Corporation’s (HSC) vehicle-type satellite communication terminal solutions and system integration;
- HDA’s K9 self-propelled howitzer and Redback armoured vehicle platforms and local marketing activities in Australia based on the ground knowledge of the customer; and
- OneWeb’s LEO satellite connectivity services.
According to the company, the parties are looking to develop a satellite internet solution by integrating OneWeb’s high-speed, low latency, low-Earth orbit satellite connectivity services with HSC’s satellite communications antenna, which is currently under development.
The MoU follows significant advances in communications capabilities by HSC and HDA.
HSC has also invested significantly in developing the industry, including a $300 million investment in OneWeb in August 2021.
In 2020, HSC also invested $30 million in Kymeta, an electronically steered antennas company, with an additional $11 million investment in March, forming a strategic partnership between both companies.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Hanwha to utilise our satellite connectivity solutions in the Australian defence market. 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,” Neil Masterson, chief executive officer of OneWeb, said.
According to Songchul Eoh, chief executive officer of Hanwha Systems, the collaboration is expected to broaden the technological capabilities of the partners.
“We have high hopes on this MoU, which will give us greater opportunities to bring tangible outcomes together, already having made significant investments in this technology area,” Eoh said.
“Going forward, we will cooperate with various companies with competitive technologies, at home and abroad, in order to strength our position in the global market, particularly to approach such countries as Saudi Arabia and Poland, who require satellite internet.”
Liam McAneny
Liam McAneny is a journalist who has written and edited for his University International Relations journal. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Wollongong in 2021. He joined Momentum Media in 2022 and currently writes for SpaceConnect and Australian Aviation. Liam has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations as well as astronomy.
Send Liam an email at: [email protected]