Project cost soars from 42.2 billion to 430 billion won as US security rules drive radio upgrade overhaul

A project to strengthen the security and anti-jamming capabilities of frequency-hopping air-ground communications radios used in combined US-South Korea operations has cleared the Defense Acquisition Program Committee (DAPA committee). The project cost has surged from 42.2 billion won ($27.4 million) to 430 billion won, driven by tightened US security policy.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held the 176th DAPA committee meeting by written vote on Tuesday, deliberating and approving a revised basic strategy for the air-ground communications radio performance improvement project.

The United States and other NATO member states are transitioning their existing radios to SATURN radios, which apply a next-generation digital frequency-hopping method with enhanced security and anti-jamming functions.

South Korea has also been pursuing a project since 2022 to upgrade the air-ground communications radios of its Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to the SATURN standard, investing more than 2 trillion won through 2032 to improve interoperability and support smooth combined operations with US forces.

The committee's deliberation and approval this week reflected the results of preliminary research and changes in US security policy. Restrictions imposed by US government security policy on TMMR software upgrades for existing equipment prompted a shift in the project's direction — from a simple upgrade to the new acquisition of equipment loaded with SATURN software.

The scope of acquisition has also been subdivided by operational environment. Ground forces will receive three types — fixed, vehicle-mounted and portable — while naval forces will receive one shipboard type, for a total of four variants. Each type will be designed with differentiated output, communication range and network connectivity to match its operational platform and force structure.

The fielding schedule has also been pushed back. The original plan called for a single fielding point in 2028, but the timeline has been extended to a phased rollout from 2028 through 2032, reflecting the change in acquisition method and the expanded development and testing schedule.

The project amounts to more than a simple equipment replacement — analysts see it as a standard transition for South Korea's tactical communications system. It is expected to improve survivability and operational continuity, particularly in high-threat electronic warfare environments involving GPS jamming and communications disruption.

DAPA plans to finalize a follow-on project plan by January next year after completing a re-verification of project feasibility and a total project cost adjustment.

"By adopting the SATURN waveform and securing the same communications standard as US and NATO forces, we expect significant improvements in real-time information sharing and command-and-control efficiency during combined operations," a DAPA official said.