BAE Systems and Hanwha: Revolution in satellite monitoring!

BAE Systems and Hanwha: Revolution in satellite monitoring!

BAE Systems of the United Kingdom and Hanwha Systems of South Korea have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop satellites for reconnaissance, surveillance and observation. This partnership aims to combine BAE's expertise in ultra-wideband radio frequency sensing with Hanwha's capabilities in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology. The official announcement of the cooperation took place on June 10, 2025 BAE Systems and Hanwha report.

Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Industry, highlights that this collaboration will not only promise technological progress, but also contribute to job creation. Rachael Hoyle, Space Director at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, sees this partnership as an opportunity to improve ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities in international markets.

Expansion of the Azalea constellation

The new cooperation is related to the Azalea project, a BAE Systems initiative launched in 2022 to develop satellites that will provide faster and more comprehensive information for military and disaster response purposes. The first cluster of Azalea constellation satellites was successfully launched in 2023, with Iceye, the Finnish SAR operator, contributing a SAR satellite for the first cluster to launch into low Earth orbit (LEO) later this year. However, BAE's four satellites already planned will not have optical cameras, but will only be equipped with RF sensors SpaceNews reports.

However, in future Azalea missions, BAE also plans to use optical capabilities to further improve the satellites' functionalities. At the same time, Hanwha Systems wants to build its own South Korean satellite constellation and acquired the rights to operate a national system from South Korean authorities in 2023. This shows Hanwha's commitment to the space space, especially after the company recently sold its 5.4% stake in OneWeb.

Strategic cooperation for international markets

The new partnership between BAE Systems and Hanwha Systems is seen as a strategic step to deepen ties between the UK and South Korea. Both companies recognize the importance of collaboration for expansion into new international markets. However, no financial details about this cooperation have yet been published.

This development highlights the growing trend towards international cooperation in the field of satellite technology and space travel. Combining BAE Systems' and Hanwha's expertise is expected to jointly create innovative solutions to challenges in space and military applications.