L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract from South Korea’s defense firm LIG Nex1 to deliver the next-generation imaging payload for the Korea Meteorological Administration’s upcoming geostationary weather satellite, the companies said.
The main payload aboard the Geostationary Earth Orbit Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-5 (GEO-KOMPSAT-5) will be the new 18-channel L3Harris GEO-KOMPSAT Meteorological Imager. The instrument includes two dedicated channels for enhanced water vapor detection and improved spatial resolution, capabilities expected to significantly strengthen weather forecasting accuracy and timeliness over the Korean Peninsula.
“L3Harris is committed to providing on-orbit technology that advances global weather capabilities, including the enhanced tracking and characterization of tropical cyclones, extreme precipitation events and wildfires,” said Jeff Hanke, president of Space Systems at L3Harris’ Space and Mission Systems division. “Detecting potentially severe storms earlier and tracking them in greater detail will significantly enhance the safety and well-being of communities.”
The contract extends L3Harris’ long-standing involvement in South Korea’s meteorological satellite programs. The company previously delivered the Advanced Meteorological Imager for KMA’s current geostationary satellite, GEO-KOMPSAT-2A, and supported imaging payloads for its predecessor, the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite.
L3Harris said its space-based imaging technology is also being deployed by weather agencies worldwide. Current programs include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GeoXO satellite system in the United States and the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Himawari-10 satellite.
The GEO-KOMPSAT-5 mission is expected to play a central role in South Korea’s next generation of weather monitoring infrastructure, supporting improved forecasting of severe storms, typhoons and climate-related risks in Northeast Asia.
