SpaceX delivers South Korea’s first military satellite

In a recent development, the arms procurement agency of South Korea informed that the launch of its first military communication satellite was successful and reached its final position in the geostationary orbit.

The satellite was launched by US commercial space firm SpaceX. Helping to fulfill an agreement between Lockheed Martin and the South Korean government in exchange for Korea’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets six years ago.

South Korea procured the satellite — formerly known as KMilSatCom 1 — through an “offset” arrangement to offset South Korea’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. In exchange for South Korea’s purchase of 40 F-35 fighter jets — a deal reportedly valued at more than $6 billion — Lockheed Martin agreed to provide the Anasis 2 satellite to the South Korean military, among other offsets.