Korea Defence Fair KADEX 2024

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Hanwha Unveils Advanced Multi-Layer Defense Solution at KADEX 2024​

Hanwha's booth at KADEX 2024. (Photo provided by Hanwha)

On October 1, Hanwha Group’s 3 defense companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, announced that they are set to unveil their cutting-edge Multi-Layer Defense Solution during the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition 2024 (KADEX) to be held at the Gyeryongdae ROK military compound, South Chungcheong Province from October 2 to 6.

Team Hanwha will showcase its collective expertise with a focus on the debut of Hanwha Systems' Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and long-range missile interception systems, developed in collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace. The MFR detects missile threats at various altitudes, while artillery interception radar systems further enhance defense capabilities.

In the "Anti-Drone Zone" visitors will experience Hanwha Aerospace’s laser air defense weapon and rail launcher system, both designed to neutralize drone threats below 10 kilometers. The Multi-Layer Defense Solution deploys defensive measures in multiple tiers to counter various air threats, including ballistic missiles and drones, addressing the growing global demand for advanced air defense technologies.

Another highlight is the “K9 Manned-Unmanned Teaming System”—a futuristic evolution of the renowned K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer. This advanced artillery system integrates unmanned and autonomous driving technologies, allowing for remote operation without a crew. Its firing range, extended to 80 kilometers, ensures enhanced battlefield performance and survivability.

Hanwha will also introduce a wheeled variant of the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer, optimized for rapid deployment and air transport. This nimble, wheel-based version enhances operational flexibility and mobility in dynamic combat environments.

Additionally, Hanwha Aerospace will unveil the “Unmanned Amphibious Multi-Rocket Launcher,” a system designed for amphibious operations. This launcher, which can be mounted on landing or transport ships, provides powerful fire support with minimal manpower.

Visitors will also witness performance-enhanced versions of existing systems. The Arion-SMET unmanned vehicle has doubled its payload capacity through optimized design, and the Tigon-MCV armored vehicle now features the TAipers anti-tank missile, providing a potent upgrade to Hanwha’s established Tigon platform.

“Our goal is to continuously evolve our existing products while developing new, tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers,” said Kim Dong-hyun, head of the Land Systems Business Group at Hanwha Aerospace.

Hanwha Systems will showcase its advanced tactical communication systems, including the “Tactical 5G System,” capable of high-speed data transmission, and the “Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication,” which delivers ultra-high-speed, low-latency communication. The “MOSS (Modular Open Suite of Standards) Platform,” an integrated command, control, and communication solution, will also be highlighted. Additionally, Hanwha will unveil its independently developed small SAR satellite, boasting 0.25m resolution, and two AESA radars designed for unmanned aircraft and multi-purpose surveillance.

Hanwha Ocean will present the KSS-III Batch-II submarine and the Ghost Commander unmanned command and control ship. The KSS-III Batch-II, a 3,000-ton class submarine, combines Hanwha Ocean’s Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system with Hanwha Aerospace’s lithium-ion batteries. The Ghost Commander is a cutting-edge vessel designed to operate a range of unmanned vehicles, from aerial drones to underwater craft, with minimal crew, advancing the future of naval warfare.

“In an era where unmanned systems are reshaping modern warfare, our multi-layered defense solution demonstrates Hanwha’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve,” said a Hanwha spokesperson.

As KADEX 2024 kicks off, Hanwha is poised to showcase its position at the forefront of defense technology innovation, offering solutions that are both cutting-edge and battle-ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

For more information about Hanwha’s advanced defense capabilities, visitors can explore the Hanwha stand B-651 at Gyeryongdae.

Hanwha Unveils Advanced Multi-Layer Defense Solution at KADEX 2024

On October 1, Hanwha Group’s 3 defense companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, announced that they are set to unveil their cutt

www.businesskorea.co.kr

 

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Hanwha first release of the next-generation self-propelled gun K9A3 model​

'Composed with or without people' can be operated with a minimum of troops … minimizing the loss of life caused by autonomous drones

The model and details of Hanwha's next-generation self-propelled gun K9A3 were first released at the KADEX exhibition held at the emergency runway of Gyeryong University, Chungcheongnam-do from the 2nd. In the meantime, there was a partially known operational concept, but this is the first time that the full performance has been released with a completed concept plan.

K9A3 SPG autonomous driving, automated firing with new 155mm L/58 caliber gun

K11A2 armed command & fire control vehicle for a group of K9A3s

First wheeled K9 SPG on Tatra chassis with fully automated artillery gun module


Currently, Hanwha Aero has produced more than 1,700 K9 self-propelled guns in 10 countries and has become the 'best-selling self-propelled gun' in name and reality. According to Hanwha's announcement, the production of K9 is 1787 out of 4656 self-propelled guns using 155mm shells as of last year. This figure is so successful that K9 has a 36% share of the global self-propelled gun export market. However, the pursuit of competitors is not easy. Therefore, Hanwha needed to widen the gap with its competitors through the 'quantum jump' of self-propelled gun technology. Therefore, in collaboration with domestic and foreign research institutions and companies such as the National Defense Science Research Institute, the 'Cha Car Self-Pon' plan after the K9A2 self-propelled gun was carried out.

The innovation chosen by Hanwha to beat the competition with overseas competitors seems to be the 'world's first MUM-T self-po'. According to Hanwha, the K9A3 is the world's first manned and non-manned self-propelled gun, and it has an automatic operation function that allows one crew member to control one self-propelled gun or several people to control the entire battalion of self-propelled gun depending on the situation.

There are three new technologies chosen by Hanwha for this. First, the number of uncharged guns required for self-propelled guns was deleted through the fully unmanned automatic re-charged technology that is put into practice in K9A2. Then, the combined driving function with and without people will be applied, so that unmanned self-propelled guns can autonomously move to the shooting position, or to drive in the following mode when the leading vehicle on a person is ahead of the road first.

Finally, the next-generation command vehicle K11A1 is a new command control armored vehicle. If the existing command armor was literally an artillery unit commander and played a command and command judgment, the K11A1 was boarded by a self-propelled artillery control crew for a combined coordination of presence or absence. It becomes a moving control station that adjusts remotely.

There are two reasons why Hanwha System has taken the concept of the next-generation self-propelled gun K9A3 and the command vehicle K11A1. It is because of the requirements of the South Korean army to respond to the reduced recruits due to the first population reduction. If Hanwha System's combined self-propelled gun K9A3 replaces the existing self-propelled gun, the number of troops can be greatly reduced, making it possible to maintain the artillery power of our army even in the era of population decline.

The second reason was that the Ukrainian war proved the importance of artillery, but at the same time, it taught us that artillery was easily exposed to the enemy's threat and was a very vulnerable weapon. The war in Ukraine is often called the 'drone war', and it is easy to misunderstand as the most advanced war because various self-detonation drones and FPV drones are active. However, the situation is changing depending on how many shells the armies on both sides consume and how effectively they shell each other. So far, the Ukrainian army has been pushed to Russia with a number of shots per day, but the difference in numbers has been made up by the GPS shell 'Excalibur' and the GPS guided rocket 'Hymas', which are precision-guided firepower, but it is currently inferior due to the lack of shells. Because of this, both sides are working hard on almost everything, so-called 'self-propelled gun hunting', and the most priority targets of the autobide bomb drones are towed artillery and self-propelled artillery, and the self-propelled artillery on both sides are suffering huge sacrifices.

Reflecting this lesson, Hanwha reduces human damage by unmanned the next-generation self-propelled gun of the K9A3, and makes it possible to leave the battlefield remotely even if it is hit in an emergency, and then installs various advanced defense equipment on the K11A1 command vehicle on which the person is used to defend against enemy attacks. Remote shooting control equipment (RCWS) is a remote machine gun that applies AI technology, intercepts enemy drones with K6 machine guns, and equips drones and anti-aircraft interceptors that Hanwha is developing to defend against aircraft threats with missiles. Reflecting the recent trend of drones to bury landmines in Ukraine, mine defense gloves were also added to the lower part of the body.

Thermal power is also another improvement of K9A3. Like the K11A2, it defends the drone with RCWS, and at the same time, it is equipped with a new 58-calibre gunshin to improve the range by more than 20% compared to the existing K9A1 and K9A2. If the latest guided shell currently being studied and the K9A3 are combined, it is expected to secure an 80km range close to the missile, and it is expected that it will be able to easily hit key targets such as ammunition spons in the rear of the enemy.

Here, the K9A3 and K11A2 use the integrated rubber track adopted in the AS21 'red bag' armored vehicle exported by Hanwha to Australia, and has an environment that is exposed to the enemy by reducing long-distance operation capabilities and noise and vibration. Hanwha is also conducting research to apply hybrid propulsion equipment to K9A3 self-propelled guns and next-generation armored vehicles, but the details have not yet been confirmed.

based on:

[단독] 한화, 차세대 자주포 K9A3 모형 최초 공개

'유무인 복합' 최소 병력으로 운용 가능…자폭드론 인한 인명 피해 최소화

www.bizhankook.com

 

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Other interesting items:

unmanned amphibious multiple rocket launcher:

wheeled K9 SPG on Tatra (better pic):

LIG Nex1 long range ATGM 'ALTAIR':

 

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LIG Nex1 Showcases Cutting-edge Military Innovations at KADEX 2024​

Unmanned Surface Vessel (Haegum-3) and Anti-Drone Systems Draw Attention​

LIG Nex1's 40kg-class transport drone that can perform missions for over 60 minutes.

LIG Nex1, one of Korea's leading defense companies, showcased its cutting-edge defense technologies at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition 2024' (KADEX), which opened on Oct. 2 at Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, for a five-day run. The company presented a range of future battlefield solutions and export-oriented weapon systems aimed at enhancing the elite and advanced modernization of the military.

At the exhibition, LIG Nex1 introduced 'smart armaments' tailored for future battlefields, including a comprehensive drone solution that spans both defense and civilian applications. This solution encompasses surveillance, reconnaissance, strike, transport, and anti-drone operations. Additionally, the company unveiled the 'unmanned surface vessel (Haegum-3),' which is designed to be part of manned-unmanned hybrid systems.

One of the highlights was the introduction of 'Bigung,' a guided weapon that recently completed the final test launch of the U.S. Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program. This milestone enhances the potential for the first export of a domestically produced guided weapon to the U.S. market. LIG Nex1 also showcased an AI-based command and control system that supports rapid command decisions by recognizing battlefield situations and visualizing them in a multidimensional form.

The exhibition featured a variety of smart armament products designed to address the reduction of military personnel while contributing to the elite modernization of the military. Among these was the 'miniature guided missile,' which is operated by a multipurpose launcher mounted on the Korean rifle and equipped with a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker for precise strikes on distant targets.

LIG Nex1 also introduced a comprehensive solution for the drone sector. The '40kg-class transport multicopter drone system' utilizes a hybrid engine system that combines an internal combustion engine with a battery, allowing it to fly for over 60 minutes with a 40kg payload. The anti-drone integrated system, another key feature, is designed to protect critical national facilities and friendly forces by detecting, identifying, and neutralizing unidentified drones.

The 'unmanned surface vessel (Haegum-3) + Bigung,' evaluated as a 'game changer,' was also on display. LIG Nex1 has independently developed a launcher for the 2.75-inch guided rocket (Bigung) that can be mounted on small unmanned surface vessels, further enhancing its capabilities.

The 'intelligent integrated command and control system,' which will serve as the foundation for the Korean Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), was another significant exhibit. This system leverages an AI-based platform to support rapid command decisions by recognizing and visualizing battlefield situations.

Strategic weapons aimed at overseas markets were also showcased, including the portable surface-to-air guided missile 'Shingung,' a core component of the low-altitude multi-layered air defense network, the long-range artillery interception system, the infantry mid-range guided missile 'Hyeongung,' and the counter-battery radar 'Cheongung-II,' a key asset in counter-fire operations.

Shin Ik-hyun, CEO of LIG Nex1, expressed optimism about the impact of the showcased solutions. "We hope that the solutions showcased at this exhibition will not only enhance the military capabilities of the Republic of Korea but also contribute to expanding the global presence of K-defense," he said.

LIG Nex1 Showcases Cutting-edge Military Innovations at KADEX 2024

LIG Nex1, one of Korea's leading defense companies, showcased its cutting-edge defense technologies at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition

www.businesskorea.co.kr

 

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Hanwha's future Redback-K tracked IFV

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1841644906965876889

This tweet got the 40mm cased telescoped ammo wrong, the cannon is produced by SNT Dynamics and various cased ammo by Poongsan:

 

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wheeled K9 SPG on Tatra (better pic):
View attachment 70971

Gotta say, this is a great model, great proportions

 

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Gotta say, this is a great model, great proportions

Yes, the Czech Tatra armored utility vehicle is looking great. Just like Polish Jelcz trucks for K239 launchers as Homer-K.

Our Doosan armored trucks look ugly as hell, they should up their design game. Hanwha‘s Korean wheeler:

 

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Wheeled K9 is a mainly export-driven design vs Archer, Caesar, Atmos, RCH-155 and numerous other models. Not well suited for Korea‘s mountanious terrain. ROK Army wouldn‘t touch that thing with a long pole maybe delpoying a few for marketing purpose if the gov twist their arms.

Hanwha lost the UK SPH tender to Archer and RCH-155, that made them mad and furious af. Now they’re firing back.

 

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LIG Nex1 long range ATGM 'ALTAIR':

Any specs?Range,caliber,weight,launch platform...