SEOUL, Oct. 19 (BNA): South Korea has launched a 16.2 billion won ($13.9 million) project to develop a space weather forecast system by 2024 to ensure stable operations of military assets, such as high-altitude drones. The weapons procurement agency said on Tuesday.
The Department of Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA) said it signed a contract with the local company Satrec Initiative last week to develop the system to predict space weather conditions and issue related alerts, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Once developed, the envisioned system will help prevent high-altitude surveillance drones, guided weapons systems and other assets from being disrupted by weather disturbances that could cause GPS signals.
“The system will be the first weapon system for our military tasked with accurately predicting changes in weather conditions in space,” a DAPA official said. “This is expected to ensure the stable operation of high-tech weapons systems and help expand the military utility of the space field.”
DAPA has expressed its expectation that civilian research organizations, such as the Korea Institute of Astronomy and Space Sciences, could use the space weather forecast system through an information-sharing mechanism.
HF