Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems said Tuesday they are participating in BEDEX, a defense exhibition taking place in Brussels from March 12 to 14, marking the first time a South Korean company has taken part in the event.
The exhibition, being held in Belgium for the first time, brings together major global defense companies including Rheinmetall, KNDS and Raytheon, alongside other European and international defense firms.
Hanwha said its early participation in the exhibition — held in a country that hosts the headquarters of NATO — is part of a broader strategy to accelerate its push into the Western European defense market.
Belgium is currently prioritizing the development of a multilayered air defense system as a key national defense objective.
In response, Hanwha Aerospace is displaying its long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) interceptor and launcher, while Hanwha Systems is presenting its multifunction radar (MFR), the laser-based air defense weapon system Cheongwang, and a laser-equipped armored vehicle currently under development.
The L-SAM, often referred to as the Korean version of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes above 40 kilometers using a hit-to-kill method.
The system completed development in 2024 and entered mass production last year.
Because it can intercept fast-falling medium-range ballistic missiles from high altitudes, the system enables rapid responses to incoming threats. Hanwha also plans to emphasize that it can support swift deployment tailored to European requirements, as countries across the region accelerate efforts to strengthen their air defense networks.
“Belgium is a key hub for European security, hosting NATO headquarters and major institutions of the European Union,” a Hanwha official said. “Building on our status as a strategic partner to NATO established through exports such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, we aim to promote Hanwha’s air defense and ground firepower capabilities in the European market and explore cooperation opportunities to help strengthen the defense capabilities of NATO member states.”
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