This photo, provided by Hanwha Group on Feb. 9, 2026, shows its booth at the World Defense Show 2026 under way in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s leading defense manufacturers put their expanding ambitions on display this week in Riyadh, presenting advanced weapons systems across land, sea and air at one of the Middle East’s largest arms exhibitions.
Hanwha Group and Hyundai Rotem are among the companies participating in the World Defense Show 2026, which runs through Thursday in the Saudi capital. The exhibition comes as Gulf states continue to modernize their armed forces and diversify suppliers.
Hanwha has mounted a 677-square-meter joint booth through three affiliates — Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean — underscoring the group’s push to offer integrated defense solutions.
Hanwha Aerospace highlighted an artificial intelligence-enabled laser-guided precision weapon capable of autonomously detecting and striking targets. The company also presented a version of its K9A1 self-propelled howitzer tailored for Saudi operational requirements, equipped with a 1,000-horsepower diesel engine produced by STX Engine, along with the Tigon armored vehicle configured for desert environments.
Hanwha Systems showcased its multi-mission radar designed to counter increasingly complex low-altitude threats, including drones and both manned and unmanned aircraft. Its display also included a broader air defense lineup, among them the Block-I laser-based air defense system.
Hanwha Ocean, the group’s shipbuilding arm, emphasized naval platforms ranging from submarines to surface combatants. Among the scale models on view was the 3,600-ton Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine, launched in October last year.
This photo, provided by Hyundai Rotem Co. on Feb. 9, 2026, shows its booth at the World Defense Show 2026 under way in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Yonhap)
Hyundai Rotem, meanwhile, presented the HR-Sherpa, a multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle equipped with a counter-unmanned aircraft system. The company also unveiled overseas for the first time its hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned mobility platform, Black Veil.
LIG Nex1, a South Korean manufacturer of precision-guided missiles, separately announced its participation in the exhibition, featuring its Cheongung surface-to-air missile and the long-range L-SAM air defense system.
The coordinated presence reflects South Korea’s broader effort to cement its status as a major global arms exporter, particularly in regions seeking advanced technology, diversified procurement and rapid delivery.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
