South Korea plans to use its domestically developed Nuri rocket to launch four military reconnaissance microsatellites in 2031, moving toward a domestic launch capability after relying on foreign rockets to deploy military satellites, Yonhap news agency reported.
The electro-optical satellites will launch on Nuri’s 11th mission under a schedule outlined by Korea AeroSpace Administration Chief Oh Tae-seok.
According to Yonhap, the plan calls for at least one Nuri launch annually through 2032.
It follows the rocket’s fifth flight earlier this month, which delivered five Earth observation microsatellites into orbit.
Other missions will deploy another five Earth observation microsatellites in the second half of next year, followed by the fifth satellite in South Korea’s next-generation medium-sized satellite series in 2028.
In 2032, Nuri’s 12th mission is expected to carry three satellites intended to work alongside the Arirang 8 multipurpose satellite.
Arirang 8 will use synthetic aperture radar to collect imagery at night and through cloud cover.
Defense Satellite Cooperation
The news comes as South Korea also explores expanding its military satellite communications capabilities.
Earlier this year, Hanwha Systems and Canada’s MDA Space signed a memorandum of understanding to examine cooperation on Seoul’s sovereign low Earth orbit defense constellation, known as K-LEO.
The program aims to provide secure communications and data services for South Korean military operations and links with allied networks.
Under the agreement, the companies will assess whether MDA’s AURORA software-defined satellite platform can meet the constellation’s operational requirements.