Hanwha Systems Expands UAV Partnership with Schiebel... Launches Development of 'Airborne 5G Base Station'

Expanding Cooperation Beyond the Navy to the Army

Joint Development of Navigation and Anti-Jamming Technologies

Hanwha Systems has officially commenced the development of next-generation airborne communication unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in partnership with Austrian drone specialist Schiebel, accelerating its efforts to penetrate the global UAV market.

Hanwha Systems announced on August 18 that it held a kickoff meeting at Schiebel Korea in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with key officials from both companies in attendance to initiate the development of next-generation airborne communication UAVs.

Hanwha Systems held a kickoff meeting on the 18th to collaborate on next-generation airborne communication drones with Austrian drone specialist Schiebel. From the right: Boseop Jang, Head of C5ISR Business Center at Hanwha Systems, and Michael Schiller, Head of Hoamtjeseobeokdo Business and General PM at Schiebel as well as Director of Schiebel Korea. Hanwha Systems

An airborne communication UAV is an advanced unmanned aircraft equipped with 5G base stations, airborne relay communication devices, and related avionics systems, capable of establishing uninterrupted tactical communication networks between ground and air, as well as air-to-air, regardless of battlefield conditions.

Previously, in May, the two companies signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of airborne communication UAVs in Austria. With the kickoff meeting as a starting point, both companies are now moving forward with concrete business planning and implementation.

The core of this collaboration is to combine Schiebel's proven UAV platform with Hanwha Systems' high-performance communication and avionics equipment, aiming to secure a leading position in both domestic and global UAV communication markets.

Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, Schiebel boasts a unique global network, supplying UAVs to more than 40 military and government organizations and private clients worldwide, including Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Hanwha Systems' strategy is to standardize the installation of its self-developed advanced communication, radar, and avionics equipment on Schiebel's proven platforms, significantly expanding opportunities for direct entry of domestically produced avionics into overseas markets and for reverse exports.

The scope of the two companies' cooperation will also expand from a previous focus on the navy to advanced research and development projects for the army. Since 2023, Hanwha Systems has been the system integrator for navy and marine corps shipborne reconnaissance and North-Western island UAV projects, utilizing Schiebel’s rotary-wing UAV S-300 for those programs.

Based on operational data and expertise accumulated during naval UAV operations, both companies plan to jointly develop next-generation technologies for airborne communication missions during mobile ground warfare. By designing army-specific mission equipment based on already proven test data, they aim to dramatically reduce development time and costs compared to creating new platforms, thereby achieving overwhelming global price competitiveness.

In particular, the companies plan to focus on securing technologies such as "electronic warfare resilience and communication survivability," which have recently emerged as critical variables in the modern battlefield. Hanwha Systems intends to develop ultra-compact, lightweight, high-efficiency 5G wireless communication (RF) base station modules and airborne relay equipment suitable even for small UAVs; high-reliability navigation systems that maintain aircraft position and attitude even under intense enemy electronic warfare attacks (jamming); and optimized solutions to maintain network connectivity during communication jamming situations.

A Hanwha Systems representative stated, "In the rapidly changing global drone market, we will further strengthen our mid- to long-term partnership with Schiebel to lead next-generation UAV technology," adding, "We will not only verify the technological prowess of domestically produced avionics equipment but also broaden both domestic adoption and overseas export opportunities."

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