News Archive

Korean drone company UVify raised $41.7M (₩60B) from CRIT Ventures and NXC (Nexon holding company), marking the largest single investment in a Korean drone firm. The company plans to deepen its entertainment drone swarm leadership while expanding into defense applications combining autonomous flight and physical AI. UVify is the only Korean company on the Dronecode Foundation board.

UAE's EDGE Group and South Korea's DAPA signed a landmark $35 billion defense industry cooperation framework covering integrated air defense, advanced aircraft, and maritime capabilities. The agreement establishes joint design, development, training and sustainment, moving beyond traditional buyer-seller relationships.

Counter-drone startup Nearthlab signed a $10M export contract with a Middle Eastern country for its "Kaiden" autonomous interceptor drone, and secured a separate export deal with a Southeast Asian nation. The company is planning the first defense-sector drone IPO in South Korea, and signed an MOU with Malaysia's AIROD for MRO cooperation.

Drone swarm startup Pablo Air raised KRW 11 billion (~$8M) in new investment, bringing cumulative funding to KRW 107.5 billion. The company merged with 40-year defense manufacturer VOLK to enable mass production of 30,000+ one-way attack drones per year, and unveiled the S20s precision strike drone with 110km range and 5kg payload.

The South Korean government unveiled its "Defense Startup Nurturing Plan," targeting 100 defense startups and 30 defense venture companies (each with over KRW 100 billion in revenue) by 2030. Six government agencies signed a coordinated support MOU, and DX KOREA 2026 doubled its startup pavilion to 40 booths.

KAI accelerated FA-50M Block 20 deliveries to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, increasing from the originally planned four to six aircraft arriving by end of 2026. The remaining 12 of the 18-unit order will follow from 2027. A follow-on order of 18 additional FA-50M is considered very likely.

South Korea deployed the new unmanned K-CEV combat engineering vehicle in its first combat exercise in early 2026, demonstrating autonomous capability for mine clearance and obstacle breaching operations.

The French Army is evaluating the K239 Chunmoo as a temporary long-range strike solution while developing its own FLP-T system (expected post-2030). French think tank IFRI recommended the Chunmoo over alternatives including HIMARS. France called buying HIMARS "risky" and is considering local production of the Korean system.

Hanwha Aerospace broke ground on its first European production center, the Hanwha Armoured Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) Europe, in Petrești, Romania. The facility will produce K9 howitzers, K239 Chunmoo launchers, and armored vehicles for European NATO customers.

Hanwha Aerospace signed an undisclosed defense contract with the Saudi Ministry of Defense during the World Defense Show 2026, one of 28 contracts signed at the event. The deal was signed by the Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 defense localization goals.

Hanwha Aerospace announced the first export sale of its Tigon 6x6 armored personnel carrier during the World Defense Show 2026, marking the platform's entry into the international market. The buyer was not disclosed but is believed to be a Middle Eastern customer.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, LIG Nex1, STX Engine, and nine other Korean defense companies signed a joint MOU with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment to establish a local Korean defense supply chain. The agreement aims to build manufacturing and sustainment infrastructure in the Kingdom.

The Korea Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Saudi Arabia's Defense Research and Development Authority (DRDA) signed a memorandum of understanding on defense R&D cooperation during Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek's visit to the WDS 2026.

Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a joint development MOU for air-launched weapons at the WDS 2026, targeting long-range air-to-air missiles and supersonic air-to-surface missiles for the KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 platforms.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries pitched its 6,500-ton HDF-6000 export frigate for Saudi Arabia's next-generation surface combatant program at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh. The frigate is capable of ballistic missile defense, deep-strike operations, and multi-domain warfare, developed using experience from ROK Navy Sejong-class and Jeongjo-class destroyers. HD HHI signed an MOU with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and 12 Korean partner firms to develop a local supply chain supporting Saudi localization requirements.

Korea's first large jet-powered stealth drone, the LOWUS (Low Observable Wingman UAV System) collaborative combat aircraft, was delivered for ground testing ahead of its maiden flight scheduled for 2026. The drone is designed to operate alongside manned fighters like the KF-21.

Honeywell Aerospace and LIG Nex1 established a framework agreement to explore collaboration on unmanned aerial vehicle and defense technologies. The partnership aims to combine Honeywell's propulsion, navigation, and sensor expertise with LIG Nex1's guided munitions and defense systems capabilities for next-generation autonomous platforms.

Norway selected Hanwha's K239 Chunmoo over the US HIMARS system in a NOK 19 billion (~$2 billion) deal for 16 launchers and missiles with range up to 500 km. The selection over a US system is a major validation of Korean MLRS technology.

South Korea began exporting the domestically developed DV27K 1,500hp diesel engine, ending dependence on foreign powerplants for K2 tank exports. HD Hyundai secured contracts to supply 116 engines for Poland's second batch of K2s and to be the sole engine provider for Turkey's Altay main battle tank. This gives Seoul full authority over armored vehicle exports without requiring third-party clearance.

U.S. autonomous systems maker Shield AI announced that its V-BAT vertical takeoff drone will be armed with LIG Nex1's guided missile system, following a contract commemoration event held at UMEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The integration pairs Shield AI's autonomous VTOL capability with LIG Nex1's precision strike munitions, marking a significant cross-border defense technology partnership.

Hanwha is investing $5 billion in its Philadelphia shipyard (acquired in 2024) for US naval construction. Hanwha Defense USA won its first US Navy subcontract under the Next Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) Program, marking Korea's entry into US defense shipbuilding.

Hanwha Systems won a contract from Boeing for the Eagle Large Area Display for F-15K and F-15EX fighters, marking the first Korean avionics component export to the United States defense market.

Hanwha Aerospace signed its third contract with Norway for 24 additional K9 VIDAR self-propelled howitzers, expanding the Norwegian Army's fleet to 52 units. Deliveries are expected by 2027. Norway has become one of Hanwha's deepest European partners, now operating both K9 and K239 Chunmoo systems.

Morocco is evaluating the acquisition of up to 400 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks from South Korea, which would make it the first African operator of the platform. The evaluation follows a ministerial-level visit to Seoul in April 2025 and includes assessments of KM-SAM, K9, and KSS-III submarine systems.

The KF-21 Boramae conducted its final test flight on January 12, 2026, concluding a flight test program spanning 1,600 sorties over 42 months. DAPA is set to finalize the development program in the first half of 2026.

South Korea's defense exports reached $15.4 billion (KRW 23.2 trillion) in 2025, up 60.4% year-on-year, driven by massive European and Middle Eastern contracts. The Big Four defense firms are projected to hit KRW 50 trillion combined revenue in 2026.

Hanwha Aerospace signed a KRW 5.6 trillion (~$4.1 billion) third execution contract with Poland for Chunmoo guided missiles (CGR-080). Poland has now ordered 288 Chunmoo launchers designated Homar-K, with missile production technology transferred to Poland.

South Korea's military announced plans to develop 500,000 war drones as part of its three-axis defense system and future warfare capability enhancement. The program reflects lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict and growing drone warfare threat.

Poland's 16th Mechanized Division received the final 12 K9 howitzers, completing all 212 units under the first executive contract signed in August 2022 — ahead of the original 2026 deadline. Poland has shifted focus to the second executive contract for 152 additional K9s, and domestic K9PL production begins in 2026.

LIG Nex1 won a KRW 1.56 trillion (~$1.1B) DAPA contract for the EW Block I electronic warfare aircraft system, enhancing the ROKAF's electronic warfare capabilities through 2030.