Ibadan, 29 February 2024. – Iridium Communications Inc. has announced that the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Defense (MOD) has adopted Iridium connectivity for strategic use within its military operations. The ROK Army will consequently leverage a full suite of Iridium products and services to enhance operations, including real-time position-tracking capabilities for soldiers.
Iridium service provider Arion Communication Co. Ltd. and the ROK MOD’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) supported the implementation by providing the ROK Army with over 1,000 Iridium Connected™ SAT-PRE (Position Reporting Equipment) devices. Iridium solutions will help fortify the ROK Army’s capabilities in data tracking and communication, along with augmenting operational efficiency and tactical awareness. Furthermore, Arion will manage Iridium satellite airtime directly with the ROK MOD.
Arion’s SAT-PRE supports both Iridium Push-to-Talk (PTT) and Short Burst Data® (SBD®) applications such as messaging and positioning. The device also provides the ROK Army with a multi-functional, handheld, truly global communication solution designed to withstand the harshest environments.
Tony Park, CEO of Arion Communications, commented about the contract, “Our solid partnership with Iridium has enabled us to secure this large-scale supply contract with the ROK MOD, and we thank Iridium for their support over the years, despite the lengthy timeline required by the nature of military contracts. The ROK military’s satellite communication needs are becoming more diverse, and we anticipate that demand will continue to grow.”
Likewise, Young-geun Park, head of the Surveillance and Electronic Warfare Program Department, DAPA, said, “SAT-PRE is expected to dramatically improve the radius of action of our Special Forces and become the primary communication for our military as they conduct operations to protect the lives of our citizens in overseas deployments and conflict zones.”
