Hanwha will jointly build an integrated air defense network for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) together with a local defense company. The plan goes beyond exporting a single weapon to equipping an entire national air defense system with Hanwha products.

Hanwha Systems announced on the 17th that it signed a term sheet for an integrated air defense network project with local defense company EDGE in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the 15th. EDGE is the UAE’s largest state-owned defense company.

Under the agreement, Hanwha and EDGE plan to establish a joint venture (JV) and draw up a detailed plan for building the air defense network. EDGE stated that it “will introduce the Korean long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM), the medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) Cheongung-II, and the multiple launch rocket system Cheonmu to build an integrated air defense network.” Hanwha Systems is also planning to export to the UAE its entire portfolio of air defense products, including surface-to-air guided weapon systems, counter-drone defense systems, and radar networks.

Through this agreement, Hanwha aims to use the UAE as an advance base for entering the Middle Eastern market and to actively target the defense markets of the Middle East and Africa. Hanwha has been expanding its influence in the Middle East market by exporting Hanwha Systems’ multifunction radar and Hanwha Aerospace’s missiles and launchers to the UAE in 2022, Saudi Arabia in 2024, and Iraq in 2025.

Yang Gi-won, CEO of Hanwha Systems, said, “With the signing of this term sheet, Korea and the UAE have upgraded their relationship from one-off arms export and import transactions to a partnership that shares the overall defense industry,” adding, “Hanwha will actively pursue technology cooperation and localization so that both countries can benefit.”

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