Industry-academia collaboration aimed at reducing dependence on foreign semiconductors for defense electronic equipment has entered a concrete development phase. Hanwha Systems has signed a joint research agreement with Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University and has begun full-scale localization of semiconductor chips in the fields of radar, satellite, communications, and high-power microwave (HPM).

Hanwha Systems announced on the 15th that it held a 'Defense Semiconductor Technology Workshop' with Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University and signed detailed contracts for the development of semiconductor chips for radar, seekers, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, satellite and tactical communications, and HPM.

Following the establishment of 'Joint Defense Semiconductor Research Centers' at both universities in March of this year, the plan is to accelerate practical development cooperation through this agreement.

The Hanwha Systems-Seoul National University Joint Research Center is embarking on the development of a 'High Linearity semiconductor chip' for satellite terminals.

It is a technology that minimizes signal distortion and interruption between space and the ground, and is a key component that contributes to improving communication quality and miniaturizing and lightweighting terminal equipment.

The goal is to secure technological sovereignty by independently developing communication semiconductors for space and defense applications, which are subject to strict overseas export control regulations.

Hanwha Systems explained that it plans to sequentially apply the technology to satellite terminals from this year through 2028, and then expand the scope of application to low-orbit satellite communication payloads and next-generation communication base stations.

The Hanwha Systems-Sungkyunkwan University Joint Research Center is focusing on securing design technology for Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs).

MMIC is a technology that integrates multiple signal amplification and conversion components required for radar transmission and reception into a single chip, and it is considered a key component that determines the performance of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and small satellites.

Through this collaboration, Hanwha Systems overseas It is expected that this will enable the internalization of core semiconductor components on which there was high dependence and lay the foundation for rapidly responding to the requirements of modern warfare.

Hanwha Systems announced that it is also considering introducing a foundry process for the mass production of defense semiconductors.

"This collaboration is a process of establishing a virtuous cycle value chain leading from design to verification to expansion to commercialization of defense semiconductors," said Kwak Jong-woo, Head of the Basic Research Institute at Hanwha Systems. "Based on the technology secured, we will enhance our competitiveness in the global defense market."