South Korea’s Hanwha Systems and the UAE’s state-owned defense conglomerate EDGE have signed an agreement to establish a unified integrated air defense network. The document provides for the country’s protection against threats of various ranges, including counter-drone capabilities.
The agreement was finalized during an official ceremony in Abu Dhabi. The parties agreed on a project roadmap that covers the integration of various weapon systems and the establishment of a joint venture with the possibility of localizing production within the UAE, according to Janes.
For Hanwha, this contract is a strategic step: the company is moving from supplying individual weapon systems to developing large-scale layered air defense systems. The project plans to integrate ground systems into a single loop, including Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, covering short-, medium-, and long-range engagement arcs.
The UAE is set to become the South Korean conglomerate’s main hub for expansion into Middle Eastern markets. Previously, defense companies within the group successfully cooperated with the region, supplying components for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
