KNS INC Signs National Project Agreement for Development of Integrated LEO Submarine Satellite Communication Solution

KNS INC has been selected as the principal research and development institution for the "Development and Establishment of Submarine Satellite Communication System Based on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Commercial Satellite Communication" project, part of the Civil-Military Technology Cooperation Program, and has signed an agreement for the initiative.

According to KNS INC on the 23rd, the total project budget amounts to approximately KRW 7.3 billion, including around KRW 5.5 billion in government funding. The research and development period is set for three years, from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2029. As the lead research and development institution, KNS INC will oversee the entire scope of the project.

This government-backed project aims to develop an integrated LEO satellite communication solution tailored to the unique operational environment of submarines. The goal is to enable submarines to exchange data with commercial satellites via an antenna mounted atop the mast while operating near the surface in snorkel mode. This will facilitate low-latency, high-speed communications and alleviate existing limitations in data transmission and system operation.

KNS INC plans to develop a mounting structure and a dedicated radome—an antenna protective cover—suitable for the limited space at the top of the mast, while also ensuring watertightness for cables and connectors. In addition, the company will implement integration among the ship's power system, communication software, and components to build a unified system that can be reliably operated on submarines.

The integrated system developed through this project will undergo environmental testing and performance verification based on the United States Military Standard (MIL-STD), and will be installed on actual submarines. Following this, the company will verify high-speed data transmission performance and communication reliability in conjunction with LEO satellite networks, solidifying the technical foundation for military deployment.

A representative from KNS INC stated, "Through this project, we expect to secure core system technology for the installation and operation of LEO satellite communication systems on real submarines, and to establish a domestic reference for submarine demonstrations. Leveraging this, we aim to expand the application to overseas submarine programs in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.