Hanwha to field 6 unmanned ground vehicle types by 2030, convert K9 and Chunmoo to AI-enabled systems

Hanwha Aerospace is developing technology to convert existing weapons systems — including the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo guided missile system — into AI-enabled manned-unmanned teaming combat platforms, as part of a push to strengthen South Korea's military capabilities and global export competitiveness. The company also plans to field a full lineup of small, medium and large unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) across six common platforms by 2030.

Hanwha Aerospace unveiled the roadmap Thursday alongside plans to establish and begin operating a production system for the Arion-SMET, the first multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle to be adopted by the South Korean military.

The company signed a mass-production contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) this month, with deliveries to Army and Marine Corps infantry units set to begin next year. The Arion-SMET will be produced at the Changwon plant, which also manufactures the Chunmoo, the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air interceptor missile and the L-SAM long-range surface-to-air interceptor missile launcher.

To ensure stable mass production of the Arion-SMET, Hanwha Aerospace has built a cooperative network with about 40 suppliers providing key components including structural parts, batteries, navigation systems, lidar and remote-control equipment. More than 98 percent of the vehicle's major components are domestically sourced, enabling rapid follow-on logistics support and maintenance.

Starting with the Arion-SMET, Hanwha Aerospace plans to secure six UGV common-platform variants spanning small, medium and large classes by 2030. Representative models include a multipurpose unmanned vehicle weighing under 10 tons, a medium-class tracked robotic combat vehicle (T-RCV) under 20 tons, and a large heavy unmanned ground vehicle (H-UGV) in the 30-ton class.

Hanwha Aerospace is also mass-producing South Korea's first defense robot — an explosive ordnance detection and disposal robot. The company is participating in the development of a range of unmanned systems, including an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle designed to precede mechanized units on the battlefield, an AI-based Korean combat engineer vehicle (K-CEV) capable of deploying drones and robots, and a manned-unmanned combined chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear reconnaissance vehicle.

Interest in the Arion-SMET has grown internationally following its domestic procurement contract. Romania, Finland and Canada are among the countries showing interest, and Hanwha estimates the global market for such systems could reach the multi-trillion won range around the 2030s.

Hanwha Aerospace also plans to accelerate the conversion of existing manned equipment to optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) configurations. The company has set a 2029 target for converting the K9, Chunmoo and the next-generation infantry fighting vehicle to OMFV configurations. Manned-unmanned teaming technology will also be applied to a broader range of firepower and mobility platforms, including the 120mm self-propelled mortar, the Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle (KAAV) and the combat engineer vehicle (K-CEV).

"The future battlefield is shifting toward a multi-domain environment built on highly secure, hyper-connected networks that enable intelligent decision support," said Kim Dong-hyun, head of Hanwha Aerospace's land systems division. "We will proactively secure the technology needed to become a leading company in defense unmanned systems, prepared for the battlefields of the future."

Hanwha Aerospace operates three plants in the Changwon area of South Gyeongsang Province, where its core equipment is produced. Changwon Plant 1 manufactures most of the aviation engines used in South Korea's main domestically produced fighter jets and helicopters; Plant 2 produces the Chunmoo launcher; and Plant 3 produces the K9 self-propelled howitzer.

Hanwha Aerospace's Changwon Plant 2, visited by a group of Ministry of National Defense press corps journalists on Monday, covers a site of approximately 198,000 square meters — equivalent to about 30 soccer fields. Finished weapons and equipment are mostly loaded onto vessels at the nearby port of Masan for delivery to countries around the world. Established in 1984, Plant 2 has produced a range of mobility platforms including the K200, South Korea's first domestically developed armored vehicle, and the K21, the Army's current main infantry fighting vehicle. A journalist who rode in the K21 at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour — with a top speed of 70 kph — found that despite the vehicle's powerful mechanical roar, it handled corners and slopes with a stability smooth enough to feel the breeze on one's face.

The general manufacturing process follows five steps: welding of structural components such as the vehicle hull and turret; precision machining of the hull and turret; assembly of tracked vehicles and other systems on the assembly line; turret assembly and system integration; and system testing covering fire control and integrated interoperability functions. Some steps vary by platform given the facility's high-mix, low-volume production model.

The Chunmoo, the most representative weapons system produced at the plant, was developed through company-led research and development and began deployment to front-line units and the five West Sea islands from 2015. Export contracts began with Middle Eastern countries in 2017 and 2021, followed by three successive contracts with Poland starting in November 2022 and subsequent deals with Estonia, Norway and Croatia. Following the K9, Hanwha Aerospace plans to hold its first "Chunmoo User Club" event next year — a gathering where operating nations share development directions and operational know-how for the weapons system. The K9 User Club held its fifth such event this year.