Hanwha wins South Korean military robot vehicle program

Hanwha Aerospace’s Arion-SMET multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle. Photo courtesy of Hanwha Aerospace July 29 (Asia Today) -- Hanwha Aerospace said Wednesday it was formally selected to supply its Arion-SMET multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle to the South Korean military. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration notified Hanwha of its selection for the 49.6 billion won ($33.6 million) program, the company said. Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem reportedly competed for the contract. The Arion-SMET can carry a payload of about 990 pounds and is equipped with day-and-night surveillance systems that help distinguish friendly forces from potential threats. It is also designed for extended continuous operations. The arms procurement agency's defense project management committee previously reviewed and approved the Arion-SMET as the vehicle for the military's multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle program. The vehicle is considered a key component of Army TIGER 4.0, South Korea's program to modernize Army units through artificial intelligence, unmanned systems and networked combat capabilities. Hanwha Aerospace is also involved in projects to develop and deploy unmanned reconnaissance vehicles, explosive ordnance detection and disposal robots and manned-unmanned chemical, biological and radiological reconnaissance vehicles. The company plans to sign a mass-production contract with the procurement agency as early as August. "As South Korea's leading UGV platform company, we will continue building a comprehensive manned-unmanned teaming portfolio that combines unmanned systems with existing platforms such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and infantry fighting vehicles," a Hanwha Aerospace official said. The official said the company would rapidly begin mass-production procedures to minimize any gap in military capabilities. -- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI © Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited. Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260729010010793 Read More South Korea speeds unmanned ground vehicle procurement Hanwha Aerospace partners on Romanian ground drone project Hanwha Aerospace teams with Milrem Robotics