Hanwha Systems is significantly expanding its strategic partnership with Austrian drone specialist Schiebel, accelerating its entry into the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) export market with advanced communication and electronic warfare equipment.
On August 18, Hanwha Systems announced that it held a kickoff meeting for the development of a 'next-generation aerial communication UAV' at Schiebel's Korean office in Jongno, Seoul, attended by key officials from both companies.
The aerial communication UAV is designed to establish a seamless tactical communication network between ground and air, as well as between aerial units, by equipping the aircraft with 5G base stations, airborne relay communication devices, and related electronic warfare equipment.
Previously, the two companies signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May in Austria for the development of the aerial communication UAV. The kickoff meeting marks the official start of concrete business development and implementation.
The core of this collaboration is to combine Schiebel's proven UAV platform with Hanwha Systems' high-performance communication and electronic warfare equipment to capture the domestic and international UAV communication market.
Headquartered in Vienna, Schiebel supplies UAVs to over 40 military and government agencies, as well as private sectors in countries including Italy, the UK, France, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, boasting a unique global network.
Hanwha Systems aims to standardize its advanced communication, radar, and avionics equipment on Schiebel's validated platform, significantly expanding opportunities for direct entry and re-export of domestic electronic warfare equipment to overseas markets.
Notably, the scope of collaboration between the two companies is expanding from a focus on naval applications to advanced research and development for army applications. Since 2023, Hanwha Systems has participated as a prime contractor in the development of reconnaissance and UAV systems for the navy and marine corps, utilizing Schiebel's S-300 rotary-wing UAV.
Building on the data and expertise accumulated during naval UAV operations, the two companies plan to jointly develop next-generation technologies for aerial communication missions in land maneuver warfare. By designing army-specific mission equipment based on already validated test data, they expect to drastically reduce development time and costs compared to new platform development, thereby achieving overwhelming global price competitiveness.
In particular, they will focus on securing technologies for 'electronic warfare response and communication survivability,' which have emerged as key factors in modern warfare. Hanwha Systems plans to develop ultra-small, lightweight, and high-efficiency 5G radio frequency base station modules and airborne relay communication equipment that can be mounted on small UAVs, as well as high-reliability navigation technologies that maintain the aircraft's position and attitude against strong electronic warfare attacks (jamming) and optimized solutions for maintaining communication networks in jamming situations.
A Hanwha Systems official stated, 'We will strengthen our long-term cooperation with Schiebel in the rapidly changing global drone market to lead next-generation UAV technology, while validating the technological capabilities of domestic electronic warfare equipment and expanding both domestic adoption and export opportunities.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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