Hanwha Aerospace to Collaborate on Long-Range Missile Development with Northrop Grumman under MOA

Joint Development of Solid-Fuel Rocket Motor

Expanding Global Defense Industry Collaboration

Hanwha Aerospace has partnered with Northrop Grumman to jointly develop a new long-range missile system.

From the left, Kevin Schnober, Executive at Hanwha Defense USA; Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA; Frank Molly, Executive at Northrop Grumman; Ron Parkseol, Executive at Northrop Grumman. Hanwha Aerospace

On April 21 (local time), Hanwha Aerospace announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Northrop Grumman for the joint development of the first-stage solid-fuel rocket motor for the Advanced Reactive Strike (AReS) missile system at Sea-Air-Space 2026, held in National Harbor, Maryland, United States.

AReS is a ground-launched long-range missile weapon system currently being developed by Northrop Grumman. It is characterized by requiring advanced propulsion performance to enable rapid maneuvering and launch.

Under this agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will participate from the initial stage of developing the first-stage rocket motor for AReS. The company plans to leverage its global production capabilities and advanced manufacturing technologies to accelerate the development and mass production of the weapon system. The joint development system aims for a demonstration by 2027.

According to Hanwha Aerospace, this collaboration was pursued to strengthen the company’s technological and manufacturing competitiveness for entry into the U.S. defense market.

A Hanwha Aerospace official stated, "In the rapidly changing landscape of modern warfare, a strong defense industry base is essential for the deterrence capabilities of the United States and its allies. Through this cooperation, we will further enhance our technological and manufacturing capabilities for entry into the U.S. market."

A Northrop Grumman official commented, "In an environment where air and maritime threats are evolving rapidly, developing weapon systems that guarantee superiority for the United States and its allies is crucial. By collaborating with Hanwha Aerospace, we will deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions."

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