South Korean defense companies Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems are stepping up their European expansion strategy by unveiling a broad range of unmanned and AI-driven defense technologies at BSDA 2026, one of the Balkans’ largest defense exhibitions.
The exhibition, taking place from May 13 to 15 at ROMAERO in Bucharest, comes as European countries accelerate military modernization and strengthen defense capabilities in response to growing regional security concerns.
At this year’s event, Hanwha is emphasizing its localization strategy under the theme “Built with Romania, Ready for NATO,” highlighting plans to deepen industrial cooperation with Romania while expanding its footprint across EU and NATO member states.
A major focus of Hanwha Aerospace’s presentation is next-generation unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology. The company is showcasing the GRUNT wheeled UGV platform and the THeMIS-K tracked unmanned system, reflecting growing European demand for autonomous battlefield support platforms.
GRUNT, an upgraded version of Hanwha’s indigenous Arion-SMET platform, is designed for logistics transport, reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, and combat support missions. The vehicle can also integrate remote weapon systems and automatic target-tracking technologies.
THeMIS-K, developed with Estonia-based Milrem Robotics, is a modular tracked UGV platform capable of operating in rugged environments while carrying a wide range of mission payloads, including surveillance and weapons systems.
The companies are also pursuing localized variants tailored to Romanian and Korean operational requirements, combining wheeled and tracked unmanned technologies for greater battlefield flexibility and manned-unmanned teaming operations.
Beyond unmanned systems, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems are presenting a wider portfolio of integrated land, air, naval, and space defense technologies.
The showcase includes the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, Redback infantry fighting vehicle, Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, layered air defense systems, AI-powered satellite intelligence solutions, and naval concepts such as the Smart Battleship platform and advanced mine countermeasure systems.
Hanwha’s expanding presence in Romania has become a key part of its broader European strategy. Following its K9 self-propelled howitzer agreement with Romania, the company is now building the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence Europe (H-ACE Europe) in Dâmbovița County.
Scheduled to begin operations in 2027, the facility will become Hanwha’s first production base within the European Union and is expected to support manufacturing, maintenance, testing, and workforce training for future regional defense programs.
Hanwha Aerospace has been steadily increasing cooperation across Europe, including partnerships in Poland, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Spain, and Romania, as European governments continue expanding defense budgets and local production requirements.
“As Europe accelerates rearmament and adapts to evolving security challenges, Hanwha Aerospace aims to support this transformation through localized production, integrated systems, and future-ready technologies,” said Lino Lim, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania.
