The U.S. military has successfully launched all five reconnaissance satellites that will serve as the eyes of the kill chain. These advanced satellites can precisely identify objects as small as 30 cm (about 12 inches) on the ground and will monitor North Korea’s nuclear and missile sites, as well as troop movements, every two hours.
The Pentagon plans to launch over 20 small satellites and more than 40 microsatellites to further reduce the surveillance cycle on North Korea to just 30 minutes.
The fifth reconnaissance satellite successfully established communication with ground control just one hour after its launch, marking the completion of the 425 project after 12 years. The final satellite developed under the 425 project, the fifth in the series, blasted off on November 2 at 1:09 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, aboard SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket. Approximately 14 minutes after liftoff, at around 2:23 p.m., the satellite successfully separated from the rocket and entered its target orbit. It achieved its first communication with ground control at about 3:09 p.m. and will soon begin operational testing for full activation.
The successful launch of the fifth satellite marks a significant milestone in the U.S. military’s independent surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, effectively concluding the satellite acquisition project known as the 425 Project. This large-scale initiative, with a price tag of about 1 trillion 3000 hundred million KRW (approximately 975 million USD), involved the development of four synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and one electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) satellite. The project, which began in 2013, took nearly 12 years to complete, culminating in the launch of the fifth satellite.
Of the five satellites, the first one launched in 2023 is the EO/IR satellite, while the second through fifth satellites, set to launch between 2024 and 2025, are SAR satellites. The EO/IR satellite maintains a consistent angle with the sun and its orbit, making it advantageous for capturing global imagery due to easier access to sunlight.
The EO/IR satellite excels in capturing visible images of the ground, providing high-quality visuals. However, it faces limitations based on time and weather conditions, particularly at night. To overcome this, it relies on infrared imaging to distinguish and visualize objects based on temperature.
The SAR satellites generate images by emitting signals from space to Earth and capturing the returning signals, offering the advantage of minimal restrictions due to time and weather. They maintain a consistent angle with the equator, allowing for frequent imaging of specific areas. With a high resolution capable of recognizing objects as small as 30 cm (about 12 inches), these satellites can identify individuals and vehicles with precision.
This capability is why reconnaissance satellites are considered a core component of the kill chain. The kill chain refers to military operations that detect and eliminate North Korea’s potential use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in advance. As the capabilities of reconnaissance satellites improve, the time required for detection and elimination decreases significantly.
Once all five reconnaissance satellites are operational, the U.S. military will be able to monitor North Korea’s nuclear development sites and the deployment and movement of ballistic missiles more closely and independently. This will allow for near real-time tracking of key movements by Kim Jong Un and could reveal the purposes of previously undisclosed facilities. Currently, reconnaissance efforts are heavily reliant on shared intelligence, but this development will help reduce that dependency.
Military Able to Monitor North Korean Activities Every Two Hours, With Plans to Reduce to 30 Minutes with Microsatellites Launched
The Pentagon is implementing a complementary operational strategy for the fifth satellite. The first three satellites have completed their activation processes, while the fourth is undergoing operational testing to determine its activation status. Once all these satellites are operational, they will enable the military to monitor and scout for signs of North Korean provocations every two hours.
In addition to the 425 project, the Department of Defense is also developing and launching over 20 small satellites and more than 40 microsatellites. These satellites will utilize domestically developed solid-fuel space launch vehicles, enhancing U.S. technological capabilities throughout the launch process.
Although the microsatellites have slightly lower resolution compared to existing medium and large satellites, they provide rapid imaging, allowing for quick tracking of specific issues and big data collection during emergencies. Experts anticipate that once the deployment of microsatellites is complete, monitoring North Korea will be possible every 30 minutes.
The Department of Defense stated that with the operational capabilities of satellites 1 to 4, the military has established an independent ability to monitor and scout the entire Korean Peninsula. It will not rest on the laurels; it will continue to push for the timely development of the microsatellite system and secure launch sites and launch vehicles to solidify the foundation for national defense.