Hanwha Pushes ‘Made-in-Europe’ Defense Strategy With AI and Unmanned Systems at BSDA 2026.
Hanwha K9 SPH.
Hanwha at BSDA 2026: Bucharest, Romania — South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace is deepening its push into Europe with a sweeping display of unmanned systems, AI-enabled battlefield technologies and localized manufacturing plans at this year’s Black Sea Defense & Aerospace exhibition, as NATO allies accelerate military modernization amid growing regional security concerns.
At BSDA 2026 in Bucharest, Hanwha Aerospace and sister company Hanwha Systems are presenting what company officials describe as an integrated vision for future warfare — one that combines autonomous ground platforms, precision fires, layered air defense and AI-powered satellite intelligence under a broader “Made-in-Europe” strategy aimed at expanding the group’s footprint across EU and NATO markets.
The biennial defense exposition, running from May 13 to 15 at ROMAERO, has become an increasingly important venue for defense manufacturers targeting Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, where governments are rapidly increasing defense spending in response to Russia’s continued war in Ukraine and broader concerns over regional deterrence.
Under the theme “Built with Romania, Ready for NATO,” Hanwha’s showcase reflects a strategic shift from traditional export relationships toward localized industrial partnerships — an approach now favored by many European governments seeking to bolster domestic production capacity and supply-chain resilience.
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Unmanned Systems Move to the Forefront
At the center of Hanwha Aerospace’s exhibition is a growing portfolio of unmanned ground vehicles designed for multi-role battlefield operations.
The company is highlighting the GRUNT — short for GRound UNcrewed Transport — a wheeled autonomous platform developed from Hanwha’s indigenous Arion-SMET system. The upgraded 6×6 vehicle is designed to carry payloads exceeding 900 kilograms and operate across distances of roughly 290 kilometers, giving militaries a flexible logistics and combat-support asset for high-risk environments.
Hanwha says the system can be configured for a range of missions, including ammunition transport, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance and combat support. It can also integrate remote-controlled weapon stations, counter-battery detection systems and automated target tracking technologies.
Alongside the wheeled platform, Hanwha is also exhibiting the tracked THeMIS-K unmanned vehicle, developed in partnership with Milrem Robotics, one of Europe’s leading defense robotics firms. The hybrid-powered tracked system is capable of carrying payloads up to 1,200 kilograms and is designed for operations in rugged terrain and obstacle-heavy environments.
The collaboration between Hanwha and Milrem reflects a broader industry trend toward modular and interoperable unmanned systems capable of supporting “manned-unmanned teaming,” or MUM-T — a concept increasingly prioritized by NATO militaries seeking to multiply force effectiveness while reducing battlefield risk to personnel.
Company officials say the two firms are now working on localized variants tailored to Romanian and Korean operational requirements, combining Hanwha’s wheeled UGV expertise with Milrem’s experience in tracked autonomous systems.
The emphasis on robotics comes as European militaries sharply increase investments in autonomous platforms following lessons drawn from the Ukraine conflict, where drones and unmanned systems have transformed battlefield operations ranging from reconnaissance to logistics and precision strikes.
Romania, which has accelerated procurement programs in recent years as NATO strengthens its eastern defenses, is among the countries evaluating expanded unmanned ground vehicle capabilities for both conventional and support missions.
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Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo Rocket Launcher.
AI, Satellites and Multi-Domain Warfare
Beyond robotics, Hanwha is using BSDA 2026 to position itself as a provider of integrated multi-domain warfare solutions spanning land, air, sea and space.
Hanwha Systems is showcasing AI-driven satellite analytics technologies designed to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as targeting and battle damage assessment. The systems are intended to process satellite-derived data at high speed, allowing military commanders to improve situational awareness and shorten operational decision cycles.
The company is also presenting naval technologies tailored to the strategic realities of the Black Sea environment, including its Smart Battleship concept and next-generation mine countermeasure systems.
On the land systems side, Hanwha Aerospace’s exhibit includes several of its flagship defense platforms already gaining traction in Europe.
Among them is the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, part of the broader K9 family that has become one of the most widely exported artillery systems globally. Hanwha is also displaying the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, the TIGON wheeled armored vehicle and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launch system.
The company’s air-defense portfolio includes layered counter-drone systems and laser-based interception technologies designed to address the growing threat posed by low-cost unmanned aerial systems.
Taken together, the exhibition reflects a strategic effort to present Hanwha not simply as a hardware supplier, but as a long-term defense ecosystem partner capable of integrating sensors, autonomous systems, fires and command capabilities into a unified operational architecture.
Romania Becomes Anchor of European Expansion
Hanwha’s ambitions in Europe increasingly revolve around Romania, where the company is advancing one of its most significant industrial investments outside South Korea.
Following the implementation of Romania’s K9 TUNET self-propelled howitzer program, Hanwha Aerospace is now establishing the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence Europe — known as H-ACE Europe — in Dâmbovița County.
The facility, scheduled to become operational in 2027, will mark Hanwha’s first production base inside the European Union.
The company says the site will support manufacturing, testing, maintenance and workforce training for Romania’s K9 program while also serving future regional demand across Europe.
The move aligns with a wider trend among global defense manufacturers increasingly establishing localized production capabilities inside Europe as governments place greater emphasis on industrial sovereignty and secure defense supply chains.
Hanwha has steadily expanded its presence across the continent in recent years, building partnerships in Poland, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Spain as European governments seek rapid modernization options amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Lino Lim, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania, said the company sees localization as central to Europe’s next phase of defense transformation.
“As Europe accelerates rearmament and adapts to evolving security challenges, Hanwha Aerospace aims to support this transformation through localized production, integrated systems, and future-ready technologies — enhancing interoperability and supply chain resilience across the EU and NATO,” Lim said.
For Hanwha, BSDA 2026 represents more than a trade exhibition. It is a signal of the company’s long-term strategic intent: to evolve from an overseas supplier into a deeply embedded industrial and technological partner within Europe’s rapidly changing defense landscape.
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