Korea's Hanwha and Emirati defense group EDGE upgrade air defense partnership

Hanwha Aerospace signs MOU with UAE’s EDGE Group to expand defense AI cooperation

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - South Korea's defense firm Hanwha Aerospace and  Emirati  state-owned defense conglomerate EDGE Group on Friday announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand joint develpment across advanced air and missile defense, long-range precision strike, unmanned systems, and defense AI. 

Under the agreement signed during the Dubai Airshow 2025 this week, the two defense majors will enter a range of cooperative programs such as advanced air-defense technologies that could enable integrated, multi-layered defense architectures tailored to the UAE’s future needs.

The agreement follows recent high-level talks between South Korean and Emirati leaders during a state visit by President Lee Jae Myung and is intended to deepen bilateral cooperation in advanced defense and industrial technologies through public-private collaboration.

Under the MOU, the companies will prioritize co-developing an AI platform for smart radar and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The program will integrate environmental data collected in the UAE’s desert terrain with Hanwha’s AI models to build a Middle East-optimized smart-radar AI solution.

EDGE’s Milrem Robotics — the Estonian-founded firm acquired by EDGE and developer of the tracked UGV THeMIS — will work with Hanwha on an autonomous-driving AI platform for next-generation UGVs. The THeMIS platform has accumulated extensive operational data from deployments in Ukraine, which the companies expect will enhance autonomous-mobility capabilities in Middle Eastern environments.

Hanwha will also assist in upgrading the UAE’s layered air-defense architecture and support the establishment of an integrated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center for air-defense systems. The initiative includes enhancing existing medium- and short-range systems to improve interoperability.

Additionally, Hanwha plans to broaden cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), a subsidiary of EDGE, across ship repair, unmanned-surface-vessel development, and large-vessel design and construction.

Sung Il, president of Hanwha Aerospace Middle East & Africa, said the Korea–UAE partnership in AI defense technology “can propel South Korea into the ranks of the world’s top three defense-AI powers,” adding that a joint venture could be considered to accelerate cooperation if needed.

Khaled Al Zaabi, President – Platforms & Systems, EDGE, said, "This understanding reflects a shared ambition to advance the next generation of defence capabilities. Hanwha’s strengths across key domains, combined with our growing industrial base, create momentum for systems that strengthen national resilience and expand the UAE’s role as a leader in advanced technology. We see real potential to shape programmes that deliver lasting value for both nations.”

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