Hanwha Systems is making a full-fledged push to reduce its dependence on foreign defense semiconductors\u2014the brains of advanced weapons systems\u2014and establish an independent supply chain. To this end, it is accelerating the internalization of core chip design technology in partnership with Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University, while also reviewing the introduction of a foundry for mass production, making a decisive move to secure a super-gap competitive edge for entry into the global defense market.<\/p>\n
Hanwha Systems announced on the 15th that it held a ‘Defense Semiconductor Technology Workshop’ with Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University and signed detailed contracts to develop semiconductor chips to be mounted on advanced weapons systems, including radars, seekers, SAR satellites, satellite\/tactical communications, and high-power microwaves (HPM). This is a follow-up measure to the establishment of a joint defense semiconductor research center with the two universities last March, signifying the start of a full-scale industry-academia cooperation system.<\/p>\n
From Satellite Communications to AESA Radar\u2026 A ‘Two-Track’ Strategy for Core Chip Localization<\/p>\n
The core of this cooperation proceeds along two main tracks. The Hanwha Systems-Seoul National University Joint Research Center will begin developing a ‘high-linearity semiconductor chip for satellite terminals’ that minimizes signal distortion and disconnection occurring during data transmission and reception between space and ground. This technology is evaluated as a core technology that dramatically improves space-to-ground communication quality and enables the miniaturization and weight reduction of equipment such as satellite communication terminals. In particular, the goal is to secure technological sovereignty by jointly developing space and defense communication semiconductors, which are subject to strict overseas export controls. Hanwha Systems plans to sequentially apply this chip to satellite terminals from this year to 2028, and after 2028, expand its application scope to low-earth orbit satellite communication payloads and next-generation communication base stations.<\/p>\n
The Hanwha Systems-Sungkyunkwan University Joint Research Center will focus on securing design technology for ‘monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC).’ MMIC is a technology that integrates several essential components required for radar transmission and reception, such as signal amplification and conversion, into a single fingernail-sized semiconductor chip (one-chip). As it can drastically reduce volume and weight while maximizing performance compared to existing systems based on individual components, it is considered a key technology determining the performance of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and small SAR satellites.<\/p>\n
Combining University Design Capabilities with Corporate Commercialization Power<\/p>\n
A characteristic of this industry-academia cooperation is that it goes beyond simple technology development to build a virtuous cycle value chain leading from design to verification, expansion, and commercialization. Hanwha Systems’ strategy is to internalize proprietary technology secured based on the universities’ cutting-edge design capabilities and combine this with its system integration and commercialization capabilities to actually apply it to next-generation weapons systems.<\/p>\n
Kwak Jong-woo, head of Hanwha Systems’ Fundamental Research Institute, emphasized, “The cooperation with Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University is a process of building a virtuous cycle value chain that goes beyond simple technology development to connect the design, verification, expansion, and commercialization of defense semiconductors.” He added, “Based on the secured proprietary technology, we will maximize the performance of next-generation weapons systems and solidify our leadership in the global defense market.”<\/p>\n
Foundry Introduction Under Review\u2026 Aiming for a ‘K-Defense Semiconductor’ Export Ecosystem<\/p>\n
Beyond securing independent design technology, Hanwha Systems is also simultaneously considering the establishment of a mass production system. Based on this industry-academia cooperation, the company is reviewing the introduction of a foundry process capable of mass-producing defense semiconductors. This is interpreted as a plan to complete an independent supply chain in the defense semiconductor sector and drive global exports. Currently, high-performance semiconductors used in many advanced weapons systems are classified as items subject to overseas export controls, so successful localization is expected to significantly enhance the export competitiveness of South Korea’s domestic defense industry.<\/p>\n
The main development schedule and application areas for this project are as follows.<\/p>\n
Joint Research EntityCore Development TechnologyMain Application AreasScheduleHanwha Systems-Seoul National UniversityHigh-linearity semiconductor chip for satellite terminalsSatellite communication terminals, low-earth orbit satellite communication payloads, next-generation communication base stations2025-2028: Application to satellite terminals; Expansion after 2028Hanwha Systems-Sungkyunkwan UniversityMonolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC)AESA radar, small SAR satellitesFocus on securing and internalizing design technology<\/p>\n
Hanwha Systems’ move is interpreted as a strategic investment to increase the localization rate of advanced weapons systems in the global defense market and reduce semiconductor supply chain risks. By lowering dependence on foreign defense semiconductors and building an independent ‘K-Defense Semiconductor’ ecosystem, the company is expected to further strengthen its price and technology competitiveness in major defense export markets such as Poland and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hanwha Systems is making a full-fledged push to reduce its dependence on foreign defense semiconductors\u2014the brains of advanced…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86653,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[43428,45926,3245,355,354,548,45928,45929,45930,45927,3841,10854],"class_list":["post-86652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hanwha","tag-active-electronically-scanned-array-aesa-radar","tag-defense-semiconductors","tag-foundry","tag-hanwha","tag-hanwha-group","tag-hanwha-systems","tag-high-linearity-semiconductor-chip-for-satellite-terminals","tag-kwak-jong-woo","tag-low-earth-orbit-satellite-communication-payload","tag-monolithic-microwave-integrated-circuit-mmic","tag-seoul-national-university","tag-sungkyunkwan-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86652\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}