Hanwha is ramping up its push into the European market by unveiling integrated defense solutions spanning land, sea, and space at Europe’s largest defense exhibition. Building on the trust earned from exports of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, the South Korean defense group aims to expand into air defense networks, unmanned systems, and space AI.<\/p>\n
South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems announced on September 7 that they will jointly participate in the 34th International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2026), held September 8\u201311 in Kielce, Poland. The two companies will operate a 274-square-meter integrated exhibition hall under the slogan “Proven Partnership, Strategic Capability, Self-Reliant Defense.” More than 1,000 defense companies from approximately 40 countries are expected to attend.<\/p>\n
Multi-Layer Air Defense Targets European Demand<\/p>\n
Hanwha Aerospace is putting its multi-layer air defense network front and center, targeting European countries focused on strengthening their air defense capabilities. The system responds in stages to low-, medium-, and high-altitude threats. On display are the L-SAM long-range surface-to-air guided missile, the H-SHORAD short-range air defense system, the H-Shield counter-drone system combining detection and strike capabilities, and a 40mm wheeled unmanned air defense system.<\/p>\n
Each air defense system is designed with a multi-weapon approach that selects interception methods based on threat type, and integrates with Hanwha Systems’ command-and-control (C2) systems and interceptor drones to maximize combined response capability.<\/p>\n
Hanwha Systems will introduce the Cheongwang laser air-defense weapon \u2014 the first of its kind to be fielded in South Korea \u2014 along with a 50kW-class mobile laser armored vehicle and a 20kW-class laser tactical vehicle. Laser weapons cost approximately \u20a92,000 (about $1.5) per shot, offering strong cost efficiency, and can neutralize small targets such as micro-drones within seconds at the speed of light, making them an increasingly attractive counter-drone solution.<\/p>\n
Manned-Unmanned Teaming and Naval Unmanned Systems<\/p>\n
In the ground unmanned systems category, Hanwha will demonstrate the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concept \u2014 integrating the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, an unmanned amphibious multiple rocket launcher, and an unmanned ground vehicle (H-UGV) \u2014 through dioramas and actual equipment. MUM-T allows unmanned systems to handle reconnaissance and maneuver while manned howitzers provide fire support, reducing personnel exposure while expanding operational range. The export-oriented K-NIFV infantry fighting vehicle and an active protection system (APS) to enhance ground force survivability will also be on display.<\/p>\n
In the maritime domain, Hanwha is targeting naval modernization programs in Baltic Sea nations with the “Striker-S,” which combines an unmanned surface vessel (USV) with a Chunmoo launcher. This represents an effort to expand the company’s export portfolio beyond land-based weapon systems into maritime unmanned systems.<\/p>\n
Targeting Poland’s EC3 Contract \u2014 K9A2 and Chunmoo Lineup<\/p>\n
Hanwha Aerospace will showcase the K9A2, an upgraded variant of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, alongside a high-performance ammunition package including 155mm course-correction fuzes for improved accuracy and modular charge systems (MCS). The company plans to leverage this display to aggressively pursue Poland’s K9 third executive contract (EC3).<\/p>\n
Responding to growing European demand for long-range precision strike missiles, Hanwha will also introduce a four-variant lineup of Chunmoo guided missiles that can be configured with different ranges and warhead types. For MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) solutions, the company will highlight a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) that diagnoses equipment status in real time to predict maintenance schedules, along with a K9 turret simulator and maintenance training demonstrations \u2014 underscoring its post-export logistics support capabilities.<\/p>\n
Space AI Solution Makes Public Debut<\/p>\n
Hanwha Systems will hold an “AI Solution Launch Event” at MSPO 2026 on September 9, publicly unveiling for the first time a process in which AI analyzes imagery captured by operational satellites in real time. The solution processes imagery from three satellite types \u2014 electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) \u2014 using AI to perform automatic object detection, situational pattern analysis, and anomaly detection, supporting decision-making for commanders and other users.<\/p>\n
A Hanwha official said, “The trust proven through the K9 and Chunmoo programs is Hanwha’s greatest asset,” adding, “We will continue to introduce tailored solutions and actively contribute to the self-reliant defense and defense industrial ecosystem development of NATO allies.”<\/p>\n
Key Products on Display<\/p>\n
CategoryKey ProductsFeaturesAir DefenseL-SAM, H-SHORAD, H-Shield, CheongwangMulti-layer low\/mid\/high-altitude defense, laser air-defense weaponGround UnmannedMUM-T, H-UGV, K-NIFVManned-unmanned teaming, minimized personnel exposureMaritimeStriker-SUSV combined with Chunmoo launcherArtilleryK9A2, course-correction fuze, MCSTargeting Poland’s EC3 contractSpaceAI satellite imagery analysis solutionReal-time analysis of EO\/IR\/SAR satellite imagery<\/p>\n
Note: Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems are jointly participating in MSPO 2026, with exhibits spanning air defense, ground unmanned systems, maritime, artillery, and space domains.<\/p>\n
Through this exhibition, Hanwha aims to present a strategic portfolio tailored to the security needs of Poland and other Eastern European and Baltic coastal nations, while further deepening cooperation with local defense industrial ecosystems. The company’s move to expand its export scope into high-value areas such as air defense networks, unmanned systems, and space AI \u2014 built on the trust secured through K9 and Chunmoo exports \u2014 is drawing particular attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hanwha is ramping up its push into the European market by unveiling integrated defense solutions spanning land, sea,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":145500,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[42257,355,277,354,548,56495,42256,74004,30170,8015,20012,40955],"class_list":["post-145499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hanwha-aerospace","tag-cheongwang","tag-hanwha","tag-hanwha-aerospace","tag-hanwha-group","tag-hanwha-systems","tag-k9a2","tag-l-sam","tag-mspo-2026","tag-mum-t","tag-nato","tag-poland","tag-striker-s"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}