Hanwha Systems has decided to cooperate with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) to develop a next-generation military communications network. Hanwha Systems said on Aug. 13 it is launching a strategic partnership with TTA to develop an AI-based 5G tactical communications system.

The cooperation aims to develop next-generation military communications network technology that seamlessly integrates and operates ground and non-ground networks using AI technology. It is also intended to apply commercial 5G communications technology to military communications systems while laying the groundwork to target entry into the global defence market.

Hanwha Systems completed the Tactical Information Communication Network (TICN), the foundation of South Korea's military tactical communications, from exploratory development in 2007 to system development in 2010 and recent fielding. It has distinctive practical know-how spanning analysis of military requirements tailored to battlefield environments to system development and operational maintenance. TTA is the country's only specialised body that carries out mobile communications standardisation for LTE, 5G and 6G, as well as internationally accredited testing and certification, and it participates in the international mobile communications standards organisation 3GPP.

The two organisations plan to reflect 3GPP-based commercial 5G and 6G technologies and NATO's strict communications standards from the early planning and design stages and verify consistency. They will lay the foundation to widen global export paths for K-defence weapons systems while ensuring communications compatibility required by global markets such as the EU and NATO.

Hanwha Systems and TTA also plan to jointly develop MOSS (Modular Open Suite of Standard), an integrated communications solution mounted on vehicles to support multi-layer tactical communications. Developing MOSS technology, which combines a mobile tactical 5G base station and transmission equipment, a communications satellite terminal and C4I mission equipment into a single platform, also requires capabilities to verify defence communications system technology and interoperability and compatibility.

A Hanwha Systems official said, "Advancing military communications is a core capability that will determine victory or defeat on future battlefields." The official added, "Hanwha Systems and TTA will continue to cooperate to upgrade the South Korean military's hyper-connected tactical communications network, enhance responsiveness to international standardisation trends, and strive to contribute to strengthening the global competitiveness of K-defence."