Officials from Hanwha Systems and the Telecommunications Technology Association pose Thursday after signing an agreement to cooperate on AI-based 5G tactical communications and MOSS technology. Photo courtesy of Hanwha Systems
Aug. 13 (Asia Today) — Hanwha Systems has begun developing an artificial intelligence-based next-generation military communications network aimed partly at expanding South Korea’s defense exports to NATO and European markets.
The South Korean defense company said Thursday it has agreed to a strategic partnership with the Telecommunications Technology Association, or TTA, to develop an AI-powered 5G tactical communications system.
The project will integrate terrestrial 5G networks with non-terrestrial networks, including satellites, using AI to manage communications across multiple layers.
The goal is to maintain stable battlefield communications by linking ground base stations, communications satellites and other systems into a single network.
Modern military operations require commanders and troops to exchange not only voice and video communications but also large volumes of surveillance, reconnaissance, unmanned-system and command-and-control data in real time.
As a result, network connectivity, survivability and interoperability have become increasingly important alongside transmission speed.
Multilayer communications are considered a key part of next-generation tactical networks because satellite connections can maintain communications even when terrestrial networks are disrupted by jamming, physical attacks or other battlefield conditions.
AI is expected to help manage those networks by analyzing battlefield conditions and communications environments and automatically allocating network resources.
That could allow military networks to shift more flexibly between terrestrial and satellite connections.
AI and machine learning are also increasingly being incorporated into international standards for 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks.
Hanwha Systems will contribute its experience developing military tactical communications, including work on South Korea’s Tactical Information Communication Network.
TTA will contribute expertise in telecommunications standards, testing and certification involving LTE, 5G and 6G technologies.
The association also participates in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, the international body that develops mobile communications standards.
The two organizations said they plan to incorporate international 5G and 6G standards as well as NATO-related communications requirements from the early stages of development.
That approach is intended to avoid developing systems solely to South Korean military specifications and later modifying them to meet overseas requirements.
Interoperability has become increasingly important in international defense procurement as countries seek systems that can operate alongside allied military equipment.
Hanwha Systems and TTA will also participate in development of MOSS, an integrated communications system designed to support multilayer tactical communications from vehicles and other mobile platforms.
The system is intended to combine a mobile tactical 5G base station, transmission equipment, satellite terminals and command, control, communications, computers and intelligence equipment on a single platform.
The objective is to allow troops to maintain command-and-control links and exchange information while moving between locations.
Hanwha Systems said the partnership could strengthen its ability to combine AI, 5G and satellite communications for South Korean military use and future international defense contracts.
“Advanced military communications will be a core capability that determines success on future battlefields,” a Hanwha Systems official said.
The company said it plans to strengthen the South Korean military’s hyperconnected tactical communications network while improving its ability to meet international standards.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260813010004394