Hanwha Systems has joined hands with Europe's most prestigious aviation technology research institute and a UK UAM vertiport company to build a UAM infrastructure ecosystem.

Hanwha Systems (CEO Eo Seong-cheol) announced that it has established a cooperative system with global players in the UAM industry at the Paris Air Show to develop a vertiport (takeoff and landing pad) and an Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) system together with Korea Airports Corporation (President Yoon Hyung-joong, hereinafter referred to as KAC).

On the 21st (local time), Hanwha Systems signed a three-party memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in UAM infrastructure projects with the Netherlands National Aerospace Research Institute (NLR), Europe's leading aviation technology research institute.

Under this agreement, Hanwha Systems, KAC, and NLR will collaborate on the development of core technologies related to the operation and system of UAM infrastructure (UATM·vertiport).

Founded in 1919, NLR is Europe's most prestigious aviation technology research institute, specializing in aircraft airframes, systems, andIt conducts research in various fields, including transportation, and is participating as a leading institution in the 'AMU-LED (Air Mobility Urban-Large Experimental Demonstrations) Project', a UAM demonstration project in the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain promoted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Framework for Future Aviation (SESAR).

In addition, Hanwha Systems and KAC signed a letter of intent (LOI) with British UAM infrastructure startup Urban Airport (UAP) on the 22nd (local time).

The three companies plan to jointly review the following: △Applying Hanwha Systems' UATM system when building overseas vertiports; △Activating domestic and international vertiports with KAC.

UAP, which specializes in building UAM airports and core infrastructure, called vertiports, has completed construction of Air-One, a UAM vertiport, in Coventry, an industrial city in central England, and began pilot operations last year. UAP plans to introduce Air-One to 65 cities in major countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, and South Korea.

Hanwha Systems plans to complete the production of an eco-friendly UAM prototype by the end of this year, and is also building a UAM navigation and control solution (CNSi) and UATM system. Currently, we are developing a UAM operation simulation based on terrain, weather, noise, and radio wave environments, and a linkage system between the 'UATM system-operator-vertiport'.

“Hanwha Systems, a company specializing in UAM aircraft development and traffic management systems, expects to create various business opportunities through collaboration with major players in the European UAM infrastructure market,” said Eosungchul Oh, CEO of Hanwha Systems.

Yoon Hyung-joong, President of Korea Airports Corporation, said, “This strategic partnership with a leading overseas organization with the highest capabilities in each of the core UAM fields is the first step toward having our technology and know-how recognized in the global market. We will continue to expand our strategic partnerships in the future and strive to enhance the competitiveness of our country’s UAM technology.”