Hanwha Expands European Partnerships

The premier international land defence exhibition Eurosatory 2026, held from June 15 to 19 at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, served as a critical arena for South Korean defence giant Hanwha to advance its Western market penetration.

Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems jointly showcased their field-proven combat technologies under the banner "Field-Leading Innovation, Hanwha". The South Korean industrial behemoth capitalised on the biennial European event to solidify supply chain integrations and sign several co-production frameworks with major continental allies.

​Amid the backdrop of structural defense shifts across Europe, South Korea has successfully transitioned from an import-dependent nation to an export powerhouse. The Asia-Pacific manufacturer focused its exhibition on high-intensity land capabilities, layered air defence architectures, and advanced unmanned systems. The strategic push highlights a deeper operational trend as non-traditional Indo-Pacific suppliers secure major weapon acquisition programs traditionally dominated by local European or American primes.

​According to official corporate press releases published by Hanwha Aerospace and Thales Group during the exhibition, the South Korean firm achieved a significant milestone by entering a precision strike partnership. Hanwha Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Thales to integrate its guided missiles into European launcher architectures. Defence observers note that this industrial convergence underscores how South Korean platforms are achieving rapid interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standard equipment.

​Strategic Launcher Interoperability

​The freshly inked industrial agreement focused primarily on integrating the guided munitions of Hanwha's K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system with European platforms. Under the memorandum signed on June 17, Hanwha will adapt its long-range guided rockets to fire seamlessly from the Thales X-Fire ground-based launcher. The versatile launcher platform, jointly developed by Thales and Soframe, successfully concluded initial live-fire demonstrations on May 20.

​This cooperation explicitly responds to the immediate requirements of continental militaries seeking adaptable deep strike configurations. The integration efforts encompass the 239-millimetre CGR-080 guided rocket, the medium-range CTM-MR missile within the 160-kilometre flight class, and the CTM-290 tactical ballistic missile which boasts an operational strike range of up to 290 kilometres. By providing multi-caliber munition options for European-manufactured launcher platforms, Hanwha secures a vital foothold inside local procurement pipelines.

​The operational momentum behind South Korean land systems has intensified across Europe throughout the first half of the year. Prior to Eurosatory, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence selected the Chunmoo rocket system over rival American platforms in a procurement contract valued at over US$900 million. Poland and Estonia have similarly finalized significant acquisition pipelines for the platform, establishing a sizeable long-range artillery ecosystem across the continent.

​Advanced Artillery Upgrades

​In addition to rocket platforms, Hanwha showcased a full-scale model of its K9A2 self-propelled howitzer to European delegates. The K9A2 represents the latest technological evolution of the 155-millimetre tracking artillery system, featuring a fully automated ammunition-reloading system. This technological modification increases the maximum rate of fire from six rounds per minute to eight rounds per minute while simultaneously reducing the mandatory operating crew from five personnel down to three.

​The artillery display also featured the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle alongside a newly developed wheeled variant of the platform. Officially unveiled in April, the K9 Mobile Howitzer integrates the automated loading mechanisms of the K9A2 onto a highly agile 8x8 wheeled truck chassis. The dual-track strategy allows the company to target European states that prefer rapid road mobility over traditional heavy tracked armor deployment.

​Industrial localization remains the cornerstone of Hanwha's regional expansion model. The company is actively establishing the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence Europe in Romania, marking its first dedicated manufacturing hub on continental soil. By targeting an 80 percent local sourcing threshold for regional orders, the company aims to embed its supply chains directly within the defense industrial base of its European clients.

​Layered Air Defence

​Addressing the rising threat of low-altitude aerial vectors, the joint display featured comprehensive counter-unmanned aerial vehicle solutions. The primary platform highlighted was the H-SHORAD low-altitude air defence system, which consolidates a 3D active electronically scanned array radar, a 30-millimetre automated cannon, guided interceptors, and electronic jamming pods onto a single mobile vehicle. The integrated platform allows front-line units to detect, classify, and neutralize asymmetric swarm drone threats autonomously.

​Hanwha Systems separately exhibited its specialized radar architectures alongside artificial intelligence satellite tools. The company presented its multi-function radar for medium- and long-range surface-to-air missile platforms, alongside a multi-mission radar designed to combine counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar tracking with airspace surveillance. Additionally, an innovative satellite imagery analysis tool utilizing proprietary artificial intelligence programming was showcased for long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

​The expansion of Indo-Pacific defense supply chains into Europe carries significant geopolitical implications. While maintaining a strictly neutral posture regarding European security frameworks, South Korea's rapid delivery timelines and flexible technology-sharing packages have disrupted conventional defense trade balances. As industrial observers watch the unfolding military modernization programs across Europe, Hanwha's robust performance indicates that the strategic defense ties binding the Asia-Pacific region and the Western hemisphere are growing structurally interdependent.