Hanwha Systems is expanding its cooperation scope with Austrian unmanned aircraft specialist Schiebel from the Navy to the Army, launching full-scale joint development of aerial communication unmanned aircraft. The two companies plan to combine Hanwha Systems' communication and avionics technologies with Schiebel's unmanned aircraft platform and global distribution network to expand overseas market entry for domestic avionics equipment.

 

Hanwha Systems announced on the 18th that it held a Kick-Off meeting for "Next-Generation Aerial Communication Unmanned Aircraft" development at Schiebel Korea's office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with key executives from both companies in attendance. The aerial communication unmanned aircraft is an unmanned system that establishes tactical communication networks between ground and air by equipping the airframe with 5G base stations, aerial relay communication systems, and avionics equipment. The two companies signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Austria last May in this field, and have now begun business implementation through this kick-off.

 

 

Since 2023, Hanwha Systems has participated as a system integrator in reconnaissance and northwestern island unmanned aircraft projects for the Navy and Marine Corps, utilizing Schiebel's rotary-wing unmanned aircraft S-300. In this cooperation, the company plans to design aerial communication mission equipment suitable for land mobile warfare environments based on test data and know-how accumulated through naval operations. By reusing validated data, the company explains it can reduce development time and costs compared to developing a new platform. Schiebel, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, supplies unmanned aircraft to military and government agencies and civilian entities in over 40 locations including Italy, the UK, France, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

 

The core technology areas on which both companies are focusing are electronic warfare response and communication survivability. Hanwha Systems plans to develop △ultra-compact and lightweight 5G RF base station modules and aerial relay communication systems capable of being mounted on small unmanned aircraft △high-reliability navigation technology that maintains airframe position and attitude even in jamming environments △communication survivability optimization solutions that maintain communication networks under communication jamming situations.

An official from Hanwha Systems stated, "We will strengthen our cooperation with Schiebel to verify the technological capabilities of domestic avionics equipment while simultaneously expanding opportunities for domestic adoption and overseas export."