South Korea is scheduled to launch its first military communications satellite on Aug. 10 from a vessel in the South Pacific, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The Mugunghwa 5 satellite, a private-government satellite jointly funded by the Defense Ministry and KT Corp., will also become the nation's fourth commercial satellite, the ministry said.
Alcatel of France has been building the Mugunghwa 5 satellite and its transmitter, while the U.S.-based Sea Launch will be responsible for lifting the satellite to an orbit of 36,000 kilometers.
The Defense Ministry and KT are to sign an agreement on joint management and control of the satellite on Wednesday.
The first military communications satellite is expected to significantly improve the military's communications network, which has depended on land lines alone.
Military experts also believe the satellite may help improve the military's combat capabilities by significantly reducing the time that elapses between a command and its execution.
The country's military on Monday deployed a new military command system, known as "C4I," which is also part of its efforts to take over wartime operation control of its forces from the United States.
A US$70 million digital-based network, C4I, stands for joint command, control, communications, computers and intelligence system.
The agreement to be signed between the Defense Ministry and KT is expected to give full control of the satellite to the military for six months of the first year and exclusive rights to KT for the entire second year, according to ministry officials.
The sides would sign a separate agreement on the control and use of the satellite after the first two years, they said.
Seoul, June 27 (Yonhap News)
S. Korea to launch first military satellite in August |
