09 August 2016

News Story: S.Korea to deploy 5 reconnaissance satellites by 2022 for DPRK missiles

SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military plans to deploy five reconnaissance satellites, developed on its indigenous technology, by 2022 as part of its "Kill Chain" strategy to preemptively detect and destroy nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Yonhap news agency reported on Monday.

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was quoted as saying that the arms procurement agency will hold an explanation session on Wednesday for the project to develop its homegrown reconnaissance satellite.

During the session, the agency plans to explain how to proceed on the project, while listening to potential developer companies. It reportedly has a plan to give the public notice of a bid next month and sign a deal with bidders by the end of this year.

The military will spend about 1 trillion won (900 million U.S. dollars) on the project. The Agency for Defense Development under Seoul's defense ministry will develop synthetic aperture radar (SAR), while the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) will be responsible for development of electro-optica and infrared ray instruments.

One homegrown satellite will be deployed first in 2020, with two set to be installed in 2021. The remaining two will be put into orbit in 2022.

Read the full story at Xinhua