Defense Firms Form United Front Against Hanwha's Growing Dominance

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, LIG Defense & Aerospace, and KAI have been increasingly coordinating to counter Hanwha Group's expanding dominance across land, sea, and air defense sectors. The three companies operated joint exhibition booths at both Sea-Air-Space 2026 in the US and World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia, while Hanwha's three defense units ran their own joint booths. The move follows a 2023 MOU on next-generation warship development that deliberately excluded Hanwha. In response, Hanwha has strengthened ties with US partners, signing agreements with Northrop Grumman (Hanwha Aerospace) and Leidos Gibbs & Cox (Hanwha Ocean) at SAS 2026.