Hanwha joins forces with 4Zero to enhance LEO SATCOMs

Hanwha Defense Australia and Hanwha Systems have signed an MoU with Australian AI company 4Zero to work on improving low-Earth orbit satellite communications.

The agreement follows an already existing Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) between Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) and Deakin University for work on the same project.

The companies officially sealed the deal at the Land Forces International Land Defence Expo.

HDA is seeking to leverage 4Zero’s specialist experience in AI and internet of things technologies to improve their current satellite communications offerings.

It will also look to its Korean-based sister company Hanwha Systems, a division of the massive Hanwha Corporation, to provide international solutions and cooperation for the satellite communications project.

Speaking about the deal, the managing director of HDA, Richard Cho, said, “LEO SATCOMs is an exciting space, and we are partnering with some of Australia’s leading companies in this domain.”

“Our recent familiarisation trip to Korea with these organisations was a great chance for everyone to see how we can work together, not just in Australia but more widely,” he said.

Representatives from 4Zero joined HDA on their trip to Korea, including Bela Farbas, CEO of the company.

“Our visit to Hanwha Systems in Korea presented several exciting opportunities for collaboration between our organisations,” Farbas said. “The 4Zero team are pleased to collaborate with Hanwha Defense Australia and Hanwha Systems on a new generation of battlespace communication and interoperability capabilities,” he added.

For their part, Hanwha Systems, the Korean arm of the Hanwha Corporation’s defence portfolio, has shown a clear intention to work more closely with their Australian counterpart, HDA. The pair signed an MoU with international satellite operator OneWeb at the Farnborough Airshow with a plan to move into the Australian defence market.

The vice president of Hanwha Systems, Juntae Ko, commented, “We hope that we will be able to take a step forward to participate in the Australian military tactical communication business through strategic partnerships with Australian companies with technological competitiveness.

“We will do our best to create great results for Australian-Korean militaries and companies through this agreement,” he added.