Aiming to Strengthen Market Presence in Middle East
Hanwha Group is showcasing its cutting-edge aviation technology, including fighter jet engines, to countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.
Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean, the defense affiliates of Hanwha Group, announced their participation in the World Defence Show (WDS 2024) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Feb. 4 to 8 (local time). They will display key aviation components and “land-sea-air” solutions during the exhibition.
At this exhibition, Hanwha aims to explore mid- to long-term cooperation with Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, which has self-defense as a core agenda of its Vision 2030.
At the center of the exhibition, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems will present the core capabilities of South Korea’s first fighter jet (KF21), including the F414 engine (known as the heart of the fighter), AESA radar, advanced avionics, and an aircraft survivability system, such as the Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM). By showcasing 40 years of accumulated manufacturing capabilities in key aviation components, Hanwha seeks to explore mid- to long-term cooperation plans with Saudi Arabia, which has high interest in securing next-generation fighters.
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East’s maritime regions, Hanwha also presents solutions in the maritime domain. Hanwha Ocean’s 3,600-ton submarine, the KSS-III, along with unmanned underwater vehicles and surface vessels, are proposed to explore new markets in the Middle East.
Ground equipment that has successfully been exported to Poland and Australia will also be displayed. The K9 self-propelled howitzer, the first to be fitted with a domestic engine, makes its Middle East debut. Additionally, the Redback armored vehicle, an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle equipped with TAIPERS (Cheongeom) missiles, the Taigon, and the Chunmoo missile with a range of 290 km are showcased to expand into the Middle East and Africa markets.
As security risks in the Middle East increase, Hanwha unveils its Multi-Function Radar (MFR) series for air defense and Anti-Drone Systems capable of rapidly neutralizing various aerial threats on the ground. Furthermore, capabilities for surveillance and reconnaissance, including “micro-SAR satellites” capable of all-weather observation from space, along with a super-connected, multi-layer network solution that spans space, air, land, and sea using low-earth orbit communication satellites, will be presented.