South Korean manufacturer Satrec Initiative is partnering with its parent company, Hanwha Systems, to develop a new fleet of optical satellites. The project aims to produce four spacecraft capable of capturing 10-centimeter-class imagery to supplement Hanwha’s existing synthetic-aperture-radar constellation.
The planned SAR constellation consists of 64 satellites designed to achieve a 30-minute revisit rate by 2031. To reach the target resolution of 10 centimeters, the new optical satellites will operate in very low Earth orbit at altitudes below 400 kilometers. The company plans to begin testing with a satellite at 500 kilometers before gradually lowering its altitude.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to offer Satellite as a Service for defense and intelligence sectors. Customers will also receive access to AI-based image analysis provided by SI Analytics, a subsidiary of Satrec Initiative. The company currently operates the SpaceEye-T satellite, which was launched in 2025 and provides 25-centimeter optical imagery.
