Mar. 4, 2026

[Aerospace Outlook] Race for High-Resolution SAR… AP Satellite Brings “Satellite Brain” Technology to the Private Sector

AP Satellite is making its collaboration with Hanwha Systems more visible by supplying equipment for the development of an Ultra-High Resolution (UHR) small SAR test satellite.

The company plans to provide an integrated solution including an On-Board Computer (OBC), payload electronics, and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE), aiming to successfully transfer the technological reliability

it built through national space projects into the commercial market.

Responsible for the Satellite “Brain”

According to industry sources on March 4, AP Satellite will supply five items including the OBC and EGSE, which control the overall mission of Hanwha Systems’ SAR test satellite.

The satellite aims to obtain 0.15-meter resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery in a very low Earth orbit (VLEO) below 400 km.

This surpasses the current 0.25-meter resolution, which is widely considered the highest specification in today’s commercial and military markets. As demand for ultra-precise data expands in defense, disaster management, environmental monitoring,

and urban infrastructure, resolution capability is directly tied to market competitiveness.

Another key factor is the ability to process large volumes of data in real time and transmit them reliably.

The OBC functions as the satellite’s “brain,” managing attitude control, power systems, and mission data. The EGSE verifies these systems on the ground before launch and supports automated testing.

AP Satellite plans to minimize development risks by applying a high-reliability architecture based on real-time CPUs and FPGA technology, along with a modular design.

The company previously localized the Integrated Data Handling Unit (IDHU) used in Korea’s KOMPSAT-3 and KOMPSAT-3A satellites, which compresses and encrypts high-speed data generated by EO, IR, and SAR sensors before transmitting them to the ground.

AP Satellite also has an established partnership with Hanwha Systems, having carried out a KRW 12.9 billion contract (2019–2024) for SAR satellite payload development. The current agreement is meaningful in that it expands their cooperation into the test satellite phase.

Hanwha Systems previously launched Korea’s first 1-meter-resolution small SAR satellite, and is preparing to launch a 0.25-meter satellite later this year. The new 0.15-meter UHR satellite represents the next step in technological advancement.

If the test satellite succeeds, it could lead to mass production and expansion into both defense and commercial markets.

Expanding National Project Expertise into the Private Sector

AP Satellite possesses the capability to independently design and manufacture satellite onboard electronics and satellite bus systems.

The company plans to establish a comprehensive manufacturing, testing, and verification system through its AIT (Assembly, Integration & Test) center, scheduled to begin full operation in the first quarter of this year.

This move is interpreted as part of AP Satellite’s strategy to transform from a component supplier into a full satellite system company.

The contract also signals the emergence of a collaborative structure among domestic companies competing in the ultra-low-orbit, ultra-high-resolution SAR satellite market.

For AP Satellite, the project is expected to serve as a turning point in transferring the technological reliability built through national programs into the commercial satellite market.

Founded in 2000 by Chairman Jang-soo Ryu, AP Satellite is a first-generation Korean space venture company that has led the localization and technological development of satellite platforms and satellite communication terminals.

The company was listed on the KOSDAQ in 2016, and also participated in the design and production of the Performance Verification Satellite (PVSAT) for the Nuri launch vehicle in 2022.

CEO Seong-hee Lee said,

“Our onboard computer and EGSE technologies, which have been verified through numerous national space projects, have now been recognized in the commercial satellite market as well.

As a satellite systems company providing integrated solutions—from payload electronics to ground support equipment—we will strengthen the technological foundation of Korea’s space industry.”