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Hanwha Aerospace showcased its domestically developed multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and laid out a clear blueprint for future ground combat operations in the heart of Europe. It is the first time a South Korean defense firm’s unmanned ground system has demonstrated tactical mobility at a European training range.
Hanwha said on May 14 that on May 12 (local time) it was the only Korean company participating in the Demo Day tied to the BSDA 2026 international defense exhibition at a tactical training area near Bucharest.
The centerpiece of the demonstration was a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) concept, with soldiers and robotic systems operating together. A crewed wheeled armored vehicle, the Tygon, provided command and fire support from rear positions while the unmanned vehicles GRUNT and THEMIS pushed into difficult terrain ahead, conducting layered reconnaissance alongside drones. They also executed logistics runs and casualty-evacuation scenarios under simulated live-fire conditions.
The next-generation GRUNT drew particular attention. Heavily upgraded from the previous Arionsmet model, the system uses a hybrid engine and can carry up to 900 kg of armament. It demonstrated autonomous follow-the-leader driving and features designed to defeat enemy electronic-warfare attacks.
About 50 senior Romanian military officials, led by Army Chief of Staff Ciprian Marin, observed the exercise and praised the show. “The demonstration offered a clear view of how conventional weapons and advanced unmanned systems can be integrated on the battlefield,” they said, commending the technical capabilities of the Korean equipment.
Hanwha said it will use the Demo Day’s success as a springboard to accelerate its push into the European defense market, including NATO countries. “We fully validated our manned-unmanned teaming capabilities under harsh, real-maneuver conditions,” said Park Byung-ho, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s LS4 project team. “We’ve established a new benchmark for next-generation battlefield operations that global customers are now demanding.”
Reporter Won-gi Cheon 1000@viva100.com
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