A delegation from South Korea is in Canada at the moment as the two countries strengthen their defence ties. Notably in the space sector, Hanwha Systems Co, Ltd signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, one with MDA Space and the other with Telesat.
Both MOUs relate to the Government of Korea’s low Earth orbit (LEO) communications satellite constellation (K-LEO). In the MDA Space news releases it states that “The K-LEO constellation is a South Korean flagship national initiative designed to strengthen Korea’s sovereign defence capabilities and ensure secure, resilient communications and data services for national security operations.” Last year South Korea allocated 320 billion won (CAD $304M) towards developing technologies related to the constellation.
The bilateral cooperation was facilitated by the signing on Nov. 10, 2025 of a Letter of Intent by the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) and the Government of Korea through the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
While today’s MOUs are a step forward in bilateral cooperation for the space sector, the larger prize the South Korea delegation is after is a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract.
Hanwha and MDA Space MOU
In the MOU between MDA Space and Hanwha they will explore opportunities related to MDA’s AURORA software-defined digital satellites.
Jae-il Son, CEO of Hanwha Systems said, “This MOU marks an important first step in exploring collaboration with a global partner to advance Korea’s defence space capabilities. We will continue to assess next-generation satellite solutions capable of addressing evolving operational requirements.”
Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space added, “We are honoured to partner with Hanwha in support of Korea’s sovereign K-LEO defence constellation. This collaboration highlights the global confidence in MDA AURORA’s secure dual-use software-defined satellite technology to deliver mission-critical flexibility, performance, and resilience for national defence networks. Together with Hanwha, we look forward to advancing Korea’s defence infrastructure and enabling a new era of secure connectivity.”
Hanwha and Telesat MOU
Standing in front are (left-to-right) Hanwah Systems CEO, Son Jae-il, and Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. Credit: Telesat
The MOU between Telesat and Hanwha centres around defence user terminals “that are compatible” with the South Korean K-LEO and Telesat Lightspeed constellations.
Additionaly, the companies “are cooperating on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), where Hanwha intends to include significant, multi-year Telesat Lightspeed services as a key strategic aspect of its bid in its Industrial and Economic Benefits to Canada Proposal Annex.” As well, “Hanwha will also look to apply Telesat Lightspeed services to various platforms within its weapon systems as a means of exploring potential business collaboration opportunities throughout the global defense market.”
Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO said, “This collaboration brings together complementary resources and expertise to deliver next‑generation, sovereign LEO communications capabilities for Canada, South Korea, and our allied partners. The secure, high‑performance Telesat Lightspeed architecture—paired with Hanwha’s advanced systems expertise—positions us to support critical defense missions and national priorities with unmatched reliability.”
Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Systems added, “This partnership enhances our ability to deliver secure, sovereign LEO communications for defense and maritime operations. By expanding partnerships with trusted global leaders, Hanwha Systems will continue to strengthen its position in the global market and advance its role as a key defense and space technology provider.”
Related