Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS)

The Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) is South Korea's satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that enhances GPS accuracy from ~10 meters to within 3 meters across Korean territory. Operational since 2022, KASS transmits correction signals via geostationary satellites including the KOREASAT 6A platform, providing aviation-grade positioning for precision approaches at Korean airports.

SBAS is a prerequisite for modern aviation safety — without it, aircraft cannot perform GPS-guided precision approaches in poor weather. Before KASS, South Korea depended on ground-based navigation aids (ILS) at individual airports and lacked the wide-area coverage that SBAS provides. KASS enables Category I precision approaches at airports across the country and improves positioning accuracy for maritime, agriculture, and surveying applications.

KASS is a stepping stone toward the more ambitious KPS indigenous navigation system. While KASS still depends on GPS signals (it corrects rather than replaces them), it builds domestic expertise in satellite navigation signal processing, ground reference station networks, and integrity monitoring — all capabilities needed for KPS. South Korea joins the US (WAAS), Europe (EGNOS), Japan (MSAS), and India (GAGAN) as SBAS operators.