Hanwha To Unveil AI Weapon Systems For The First Time At Saudi Defense Exhibition

Hanwha is set to unveil advanced weapon systems such as the AI-powered Loitering Precision-Guided Weapon (L-PGW) to the global market for the first time. Together with the government of the Republic of Korea as a "one team," the company aims to showcase the competitiveness of Korea’s defense industry in Saudi Arabia and to contribute to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s national development strategy, Vision 2030.

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Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean announced on the 4th that they will participate in the World Defense Show 2026, to be held in Riyadh from the 8th to the 12th, with an integrated exhibition booth of a record size of 677 square meters (including 50 square meters outdoors. Held biennially, WDS marks its third edition this year, and 773 companies from 76 countries are expected to take part in the event.

At this exhibition, Hanwha will put AI-based, future-oriented integrated weapon systems at the forefront to demonstrate the evolution of Korea’s defense technologies. The L-PGW to be unveiled by Hanwha Aerospace is a next-generation weapon system in which AI autonomously conducts reconnaissance, identifies targets, and carries out strikes. It will be showcased for the first time in the global advanced weapons market, which has so far been led by U.S. and European defense companies.

The L-PGW is a new-concept weapon system in which AI technology detects and identifies targets, transmits information via satellite data links, and then, at the strike stage, deploys and launches a loitering munition (suicide drone).

Hanwha Systems will present its vision for AI-based future weapon systems spanning surveillance and reconnaissance, space, and the maritime battlespace. It will unveil for the first time a Multi-Function Radar (MMR) capable of countering low-altitude aerial threats such as drones in conjunction with ground weapon systems, and will also showcase an AI-based Combat Management System (CMS) and an AESA-based four-face fixed Multi-Function Radar (MFR). In addition, through its Smart Battleship concept, which applies unmanned systems and stealth design, the company will propose a paradigm shift in the battlespace.

Hanwha will also propose a localization-focused cooperation model that simultaneously meets Saudi Arabia’s desert environment and maritime security needs. The K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, equipped with a 1,000-horsepower diesel engine from STX Engine of Korea, has been customized for export to Saudi Arabia and will be displayed as a full-scale system, and the Tigon wheeled armored vehicle, optimized for desert terrain, will also be showcased.

In the maritime sector, Hanwha Ocean will demonstrate its capabilities in providing Naval solutions that encompass everything from submarines to surface vessels. Exhibits will include the 3,000-ton Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine, which was launched in October last year, as well as a submarine base, surface combatants, and unmanned surface vessels.

In particular, the company will propose a submarine base solution in the form of a fully customized total package for the operating country. The concept is to support operational stability and risk minimization for customer nations by providing a one-stop package that covers design and construction, equipment supply, and maintenance, training, and operation. This model goes beyond simple arms sales to include the establishment of industrial infrastructure and operational capabilities, and is being evaluated as a way to support Saudi Arabia’s ongoing defense industrialization strategy.

A Hanwha official said, "Together with the government of the Republic of Korea as one team, we will pioneer global markets and, in cooperation with our partners, advance onto the world stage," adding, "By contributing to the enhancement of Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities and industrial self-reliance, we will further solidify the strategic partnership between the two countries."

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