SAT-PRE by Arion. Photo: Iridium

The South Korea Ministry of Defense (MOD) signed a deal with Iridium to integrate Iridium products and services for military operations, including real-time position tracking capabilities for soldiers. Iridium announced the contract on Feb. 28. 

Iridium service provider Arion Communication and the MoD’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration supported the implementation by providing South Korea’s Army with over 1,000 Iridium Connected SAT-PRE (Position Reporting Equipment) handheld devices. Arion will manage Iridium satellite airtime directly with the MoD. Iridium solutions will improve the Army’s capabilities in data tracking and communication and tactical awareness. Arion’s SAT-PRE supports both Iridium Push-to-Talk and Short Burst Data applications such as messaging and positioning.

“This contract is especially meaningful as it is not just a supply of satellite terminals, but also a satellite communication system that can be fully integrated with the military network system, and it is characterized by the fact that SAT-PRE’s outstanding performance is based on the reliability of the Iridium network through numerous battlefield tests, and it can be utilized out of the box with proven communication performance,” said CEO of Arion Communications, Tony Park. 

Young-geun Park, head of the Surveillance and Electronic Warfare Program Department, DAPA, said that the SAT-PRE is expected to improve the radius of the Special Forces and become the primary communication for South Korea’s MoD in overseas deployments and conflict zones.