BAE secures contracts to modernise comms for South Korea

BAE Systems has been awarded contracts totalling £84 million to supply South Korea with advanced communication systems, according to a press release.

These contracts are part of the Republic of Korea’s national communications modernisation strategy, focusing on enhancing secure and interoperable command and control capabilities for their military’s fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

BAE Systems’ next-generation radios will utilise the SATURN (Second-generation Anti-jam Tactical Ultra-high Frequency Radio for NATO) waveform, which the firm say provides fast frequency hopping to secure communications. The press release highlights that these improvements are crucial for operators who need reliable and accurate information to make critical decisions in the field.

Dave Logan, vice president and general manager of C4ISRS at BAE Systems, underscored the importance of this development. “In today’s complex and contested battlefields, superiority on the ground, in the air, and at sea is mission critical,” said Logan, quoted in the news release.

“This tailored solution for the Republic of Korea will equip its forces with state-of-the-art, secure, and modern communications for a variety of tactical missions while allowing them to maintain interoperability with the U.S. and coalition partners.”

The ARC-232A radios, capable of using the SATURN waveform, are designed to be upgradeable, small, and lightweight, making them more resistant to jamming. According to the press release, these radios also offer optimal receiver sensitivity in challenging conditions and come in various configurations to counter potential threats.

Production of the ARC-232A radios will take place at BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The release also mentions that BAE Systems will deliver the radios to South Korean manufacturer LIG Nex1 for final assembly, testing, and integration into aircraft.