The South Korean military will have all five 425 Project military reconnaissance satellites fully operational next year. In addition, it is launching a full-scale follow-up logistics support initiative for satellites, ground systems, and related infrastructure.
According to the South Korean government and military sources on Tuesday, the fourth reconnaissance satellite is scheduled for launch in April, while the fifth satellite is expected to launch in the first half of the year, with scheduling currently being coordinated with SpaceX and other U.S. private space companies.
The first satellite was launched in December 2023, followed by the second and third satellites in April and December last year. The 425 Project aims to deploy five high-resolution medium-to-large reconnaissance satellites by the end of 2025, including four Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites and one Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO·IR) satellite.
Once all five satellites are fully operational, the South Korean military will be able to collect satellite imagery and video of North Korean missile bases, nuclear test sites, and other key facilities at approximately two-hour intervals.
During the phased deployment of the military reconnaissance satellites, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has primarily funded the project through defense capability enhancement funds. However, starting in 2026, the military unit operating the satellites will oversee operations and maintenance using its defense operations budget, including follow-up logistics support.
The operations and maintenance project will cover all aspects of satellite and system support, including the EO·IR satellite, four SAR satellites, fixed and mobile ground systems, overseas antenna operations, and satellite network protection. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) will also be involved.
In this regard, the Defense Intelligence Command recently commissioned a policy research study to explore strategies for enhancing follow-up logistics support for military reconnaissance satellites. The study aims to define the scope of follow-up logistics support and set timelines for each project phase.
A military official stated, “We will analyze domestic and international satellite operations and maintenance cases and assess the necessary programs for sustaining our satellite operations. The study will also determine when to incorporate each logistics support project into the mid-term national defense plan and budget.”
The official added, “To formalize follow-up logistics support contracts, we will review relevant laws and regulations from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of National Defense and consider technical agreements with government-funded research institutions. Some projects related to follow-up logistics support may be put out for bid within 2025.”
Following the deployment of reconnaissance satellites, the South Korean military is pursuing additional projects to strengthen its defense space capabilities further. DAPA is working on establishing a dedicated military space launch site in collaboration with the space industry cluster in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, to complete the facility by 2030.
A military official explained, “Due to a lack of infrastructure, South Korea cannot launch military solid-fuel rockets, meaning medium-to-large satellites must rely on foreign launch providers. If we build a dedicated military launch site domestically, we can reduce dependence on foreign launch vehicles and use the site to deploy low-orbit microsatellite reconnaissance systems.”
DAPA is also planning to establish a National Defense Space Certification Center. This facility will conduct ground testing of satellite components to evaluate their performance, stability, and operational reliability, which is crucial in maintaining and sustaining military reconnaissance satellites.