"Does it mean that various types of Cheonmu missiles with different ranges can be mounted without needing software changes to the launcher?"

The 2025 Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) is being held at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. A high-ranking official in military uniform from a Middle Eastern country was asking detailed questions to a Hanwha Aerospace representative at the Hanwha integrated exhibition hall. The Hanwha representative responded, "It is designed to launch missiles of various ranges simultaneously, so no additional work or cost is required."

Following the 'Public Day' schedule, including the airshow (aerobatic flight) at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, from the 17th to the 19th, ADEX commenced its main professional visitor events on the 20th at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The exhibition hall was half foreign and half Korean, reflecting the recent popularity of 'K-Defense.' The booths of Korean defense companies were crowded with military and defense industry officials from various countries, who were busy moving between booths and listening to explanations.

A Hanwha Aerospace representative explained, "Only this afternoon, a large number of military officials from the Middle East and Southeast Asia visited," adding, "They showed particular interest in the ability to operate weapons with minimal personnel and cost."

In addition to those interested in purchasing weapons, foreign industry professionals seeking opportunities to supply their products or gather information on competitors were also observed. A visitor who introduced himself as being from a Turkish drone engine manufacturer promoted his company's catalog at the LIG Nex1 promotional hall. He stated, "I participated in ADEX for the first time to find out if there is an opportunity to equip our engines on drones developed in Korea," adding, "This exhibition seems to reveal the scale of the Korean defense industry." A representative from a U.S. defense company, who spent a long time examining Hanwha Systems' defense system introduction screen, also mentioned, "I am visiting Korean exhibition halls to understand the trends of Korean defense companies with similar business models."

The global defense industry trend permeating this ADEX, which is being held with participation from over 600 companies from 35 countries, the largest scale ever, was 'Artificial Intelligence (AI).' The focus was on integrating land, sea, and air battlefields into a single command system using AI, while maximizing the operation of unmanned equipment to reduce personnel losses. Hanwha showcased a wide range of unmanned maneuver systems at its integrated exhibition hall, including the next-generation K9 self-propelled howitzer K9A3 capable of unmanned operation, the missile 'Cheonmu 3.0' equipped with a self-destruct drone that identifies friend or foe based on AI, and the 'Smart Battleship' that automatically engages targets.

LIG Nex1 also exhibited AI unmanned solutions, including the next-generation electronic warfare aircraft to be jointly developed with Korean Air. Korean Air displayed a model of the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to be co-developed with U.S. defense company L3Harris and showcased its special aircraft modification technology.

Kia, which manufactures military vehicles, exhibited the 'AI Surveillance Vehicle' that automatically monitors dangerous areas and the 'Drone Carrier Vehicle' that can expand reconnaissance range, both of which can be produced according to operational needs. Additionally, a military command vehicle based on the pickup truck 'Tasman' was deployed at this exhibition.

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