Hanwha Systems to build network to share land, sea, air target info

South Korea's Hanwha Systems Co. will start domestic research and development of new tactical data links used by member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) like the US and UK to respond to network centric warfare (NCW) and raise joint operational capability with the US military.

The company on Tuesday said it signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on the development of a system for a joint maritime tactical data link (Link-22) for 16 types of vessels worth 209.5 billion won ($161.8 million).

The sea tactical data link is a digital communication network that shares and spreads real-time information on targets detected at sea, underwater and in the air by warships, submarines and aircraft. Systems for surveillance, command control and strikes are quickly and effectively linked to enable allied forces to conduct systematic operations in anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare and defense versus ballistic missiles.

Link-22 is equipped with new encryption equipment on Link-11, which is used by the US Navy, with better communication capacity such as improved anti-jamming performance and wider transmission distance.

Hanwha System used domestic technology and know-how to make data link processors and network control software, two core components of Link-22. Installation and configuration of the joint encryption devices, modems and communication equipment will be followed by their integration with the combat management system and that of the land command system with Link-22.

The company targets 16 types of vessels including those of operations, fleet and training commands, convoy ships, destroyers, submarines and support ships on land. The plan is to launch the project next year, develop the system and complete mass production by 2029.

"Hanwha Systems, a developer of complete systems for joint tactical data links, is already developing data link processors, a core function of Link-22, using its know-how in tactical data link development," Hanwha Systems CEO Eoh Sung-chul said. 

"As Korea's only company capable of testing the integration and interoperability of Korea-US tactical data link systems, we will maximize the operating capacity of our navy through our unrivaled status in tactical data links at home and abroad and demonstrate the reliability and outstanding performance of K-Defense," he added. 

Write to Jae-Fu Kim at hu@hankyung.com