BAE Systems Secures $111M for Tactical Radios for South Korea

BAE Systems has received contracts totaling $111 million to provide the Second-generation, Anti-jam, Tactical, Ultra-high Frequency Radio for NATO, known as the SATURN waveform, to the Republic of Korea (ROK).

This initiative is part of the ROK's national communications modernization strategy, aimed at enhancing secure and interoperable command and control capabilities for its military's fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

BAE Systems' next-generation software-defined radios will utilize SATURN’s fast frequency hopping waveform, designed to improve communication reliability and security. The SATURN waveform is intended to assist operators in making timely and accurate decisions in the field.

The ARC-232A, a SATURN-capable software-defined radio, is designed to be small, lightweight, and upgradeable, with features that make it difficult to jam. These radios offer high receiver sensitivity and can be configured to counter various threats.

Production of the radios will take place at BAE Systems' facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. BAE Systems will supply the ARC-232A to Korean manufacturer LIG Nex1 for final assembly, testing, and integration into aircraft.