Hanwha Systems to Develop AESA Radar, the 'Eye of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles'

Selected as a Collaborative Partner for Technology Development Project Led by the Agency for Defense Development

Hanwha Systems is developing an AESA radar for unmanned swarm aircraft.

Expected image of unmanned swarm aircraft equipped with AESA radar (Provided by Hanwha Systems)

On the 11th, Hanwha Systems was selected as the preferred negotiation partner for the AESA radar technology development project for unmanned swarm aircraft, led by the Agency for Defense Development.

The goal is to develop an AESA radar optimized for unmanned swarm aircraft that can be integrated with the Korean fighter jet (KF-21) by the end of 2026. The AESA radar, mounted on the front of the fighter jet and serving as its "eyes," is a state-of-the-art radar capable of simultaneously performing various missions such as detecting and tracking air, ground, and sea targets.

Hanwha Systems plans to apply the 'air-cooling' technology, which cools the high-heat radar using only air, for the first time domestically to achieve miniaturization and weight reduction. The size of the core components of the antenna that transmits and receives radar signals will also be significantly reduced. Hanwha Systems expects that once development is complete, the radar can be installed not only on unmanned aircraft but also on light fighter-class aircraft.