Hanwha-Milrem Robotics signed teaming agreement at BSDA 2026.
Hanwha-Milrem Robotics’ Teaming Agreement for Romania’s UGV Program: Bucharest — South Korean defense major Hanwha Aerospace has entered into a strategic partnership with Estonian autonomous systems developer Milrem Robotics to jointly pursue Romania’s unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) program, in a move that signals growing competition and industrial collaboration within Europe’s evolving defense market.
The teaming agreement was signed during the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2026 (BSDA 2026) exhibition in Bucharest by Hanwha Aerospace, its Romanian subsidiary Hanwha Aerospace Romania (HARO), and Milrem Robotics.
The partnership aims to combine Hanwha’s wheeled unmanned vehicle technologies with Milrem’s tracked robotic systems while supporting Romania’s push for localized defense production and industrial participation.
Localized Production at the Center
Under the proposed structure, Hanwha Aerospace Romania is expected to act as the prime contractor for the Romanian program, overseeing local production and industrial cooperation.
The company plans to offer wheeled UGV platforms based on the Arion-SMET and its upgraded variant GRUNT, a high-mobility 6×6 unmanned platform designed for long-range operations, heavy payload transport, and modular mission configurations.
Milrem Robotics will contribute its widely deployed THeMIS tracked UGV platform and related autonomous technologies as part of the integrated offering.
The THeMIS platform has gained international visibility for its modular design, hybrid propulsion system and ability to operate in rugged terrain while carrying mission-specific payloads ranging from logistics support to reconnaissance and combat applications.
The companies said the partnership is intended not only to strengthen their competitiveness in Romania’s UGV procurement effort, but also to position the alliance for future opportunities across broader European and international defense markets.
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Hanwha’s UGV at BSDA 2026.
Focus on European Defense Cooperation
Lino Lim described the agreement as an important step toward introducing advanced unmanned technologies into Romania through local industrial participation.
“By combining next-generation UGV technologies from the two companies, we aim to deliver a flexible and scalable solution tailored to Romania’s operational needs, while contributing to the development of its defense industrial base and strengthening European cooperation,” Lim said during the announcement.
Kuldar Väärsi emphasized Milrem’s production experience and the possibility of expanding manufacturing capabilities into Romania.
“Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS is one of the first unmanned ground vehicles in Europe that has successfully entered series production,” Väärsi said.
“With two established manufacturing sites in Europe and extensive experience in technology transfer, we see strong potential to expand manufacturing capabilities to Romania in cooperation with Hanwha, while strengthening regional defense manufacturing capacity.”
Live Battlefield Demonstration at BSDA 2026
Ahead of the defense exhibition, Hanwha Aerospace and Milrem Robotics also conducted a live Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) demonstration near Bucharest on May 12.
The exercise integrated Hanwha’s TIGON armored vehicle, the GRUNT unmanned platform, and Milrem’s THeMIS Cargo system in a simulated battlefield environment.
According to the companies, the demonstration included reconnaissance and surveillance operations, logistics resupply missions, casualty evacuation scenarios, and drone-assisted battlefield monitoring under simulated electronic warfare conditions.
The event reportedly attracted Romanian military officials and defense leadership, highlighting growing interest in integrating autonomous systems into future battlefield operations.
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Hanwha-Milrem Robotics signed teaming agreement at BSDA 2026.
Expanding European Defense Footprint
The agreement reflects Hanwha Aerospace’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in Europe amid rising defense spending and modernization efforts across NATO member states following heightened regional security concerns.
The company has increasingly pursued localization, co-production and technology transfer arrangements as part of its international defense strategy, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Milrem Robotics, meanwhile, has emerged as one of Europe’s most prominent autonomous military systems developers. Its THeMIS UGV platform is currently in service or involved in defense programs in more than 20 countries.
The company also led the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) initiative known as iMUGS, focused on developing scalable architectures for hybrid manned-unmanned military systems. The follow-up project, iMUGS2, reportedly carries a value of €55 million and remains ongoing.
Defense analysts say the Hanwha–Milrem partnership reflects a broader trend toward multinational industrial alliances aimed at accelerating deployment of robotic and autonomous battlefield technologies while satisfying European requirements for domestic industrial participation and supply-chain resilience.
As NATO members continue investing in next-generation land systems, unmanned ground vehicles are increasingly viewed as critical assets for reconnaissance, logistics, casualty evacuation and force protection in high-risk operational environments.
Hanwha’s UGVs at BSDA 2026.
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