Hanwha Strengthens Defense Cooperation with UAE Defense Company EDGE

MOU Signed at Dubai Airshow on the 20th
Joint Development of AI Platforms for Unmanned Vehicles and Smart Radar
Strengthening UAE Integrated Air Defense Network and Establishing MRO Center

Hanwha announced on the 21st that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with EDGE Group, the UAE state-owned defense company, for joint investment and development in the defense sector at the ongoing 'Dubai Airshow 2025' in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On the 20th, Sungil Han, President of Middle East and Africa at Hanwha Aerospace (left), and Khaled Al Zaabi, President of EDGE Platform and Systems Division, took a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation including the establishment of an integrated multi-layer air defense system in the UAE and defense AI collaboration at the Dubai Airshow. Hanwha

This agreement is a follow-up measure to the recent Korea-UAE summit discussions on expanding advanced defense and industrial cooperation between the two countries. Hanwha plans to further strengthen mutual cooperation in the private sector to actively support government policy.

Through this agreement, the two companies will prioritize the joint development of an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to be applied to smart radar and autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). They plan to develop a smart radar AI platform tailored to the Middle Eastern operational environment by combining real combat target and battlefield data accumulated in the UAE desert with Hanwha's AI models.

Milrem Robotics, an unmanned ground systems company under EDGE Group, will collaborate with Hanwha to develop an AI platform for autonomous UGVs by integrating real-world data from its tracked UGV 'THeMIS' with Hanwha's AI technology. Since THeMIS has performed missions on the battlefield in Ukraine and gathered a wide range of real combat data, it is expected that combining this with Hanwha's AI models will enable the development of autonomous driving technology customized for the Middle East.

Alongside AI collaboration, Hanwha will also support the upgrade of the UAE's multi-layered air defense network and the establishment of an integrated air defense maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center. By cooperating on air defense systems, the two parties will work to strengthen the UAE's air defense capabilities and build an integrated air defense network that connects with existing medium- and short-range systems. Hanwha also envisions the creation of an integrated MRO cluster in the UAE to establish a long-term and self-sustaining air defense operation system.

Through cooperation with ADSB, the UAE state-owned shipyard, Hanwha also plans to expand collaboration in the shipbuilding sector, including large commercial vessel repairs, joint development and production of unmanned vessels, and the design and construction of large warships.

Sungil Han, President of Middle East and Africa at Hanwha Aerospace, stated, "Through the Korea-UAE AI technology alliance, Korea can realistically become one of the world's top three defense AI powerhouses," adding, "If necessary, we can also consider establishing a joint venture to accelerate defense AI technology cooperation between the two countries."

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