"Targeting Europe's Air Defense Network... Hanwha Takes L-SAM to Belgium"

Showcasing Air Defense and Ground Firepower Systems at BEDEX

Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems will participate in a defense exhibition held in Belgium as part of their efforts to expand into the European defense market.

A bird's-eye view of the Hanwha Aerospace booth at the defense exhibition "BEDEX 2026" held in Brussels, Belgium. Provided by Hanwha Aerospace

Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems announced on March 11 that they will be the first Korean companies to participate in "BEDEX 2026," a defense exhibition taking place in Brussels, Belgium from March 12 to 14.

BEDEX is the first defense exhibition to be held in Belgium, attracting major global defense companies such as Rheinmetall, KNDS, and Raytheon. Hanwha plans to use this exhibition, hosted in Belgium where NATO headquarters is located, to further strengthen its strategy for entering the Western European market.

Belgium is currently prioritizing the establishment of a multi-layered air defense network as a core task in its defense sector. In line with this, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems will showcase an air defense solution centered on the long-range surface-to-air missile system, L-SAM.

Hanwha Aerospace will exhibit the L-SAM interceptor missile and its launcher, while Hanwha Systems will present the multi-function radar (MFR) for L-SAM, the "Cheongwang" laser air defense weapon, and an armored vehicle equipped with a laser weapon currently under development.

The L-SAM is a long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at altitudes above 40 km using a direct collision (hit-to-kill) method. Development was completed in 2024, and mass production began last year.

This weapon system is characterized by its ability to rapidly respond to and intercept medium-range ballistic missiles descending from high altitudes. The company also plans to emphasize its capability to provide rapid force integration tailored to the needs of the European market, which is increasingly focusing on strengthening its air and missile defense networks.

Hanwha Aerospace will also introduce the multi-launch precision-guided weapon "Chunmoo." Following its deployment in Poland, Chunmoo is expanding its operation to other European countries such as Estonia and Norway. At this exhibition, Hanwha will display the Chunmoo launcher alongside four types of guided missiles, with ranges spanning from 80 km to 290 km.

A Hanwha representative stated, "Belgium is a key hub for European security, hosting the headquarters of NATO and major institutions of the European Union (EU). Building on the strategic partnership with NATO established through exports such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, we will actively introduce Hanwha's air defense and ground firepower solutions to the European market and seek to expand cooperation with NATO member countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.