▲ This photo, provided by Hanwha Aerospace Co., shows the Arion-SMET multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at the company's manufacturing facility in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ From back to front, the THeMIS tracked unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), the GRUNT and Arion-AMET multipurpose UGVs demonstrate maneuvers at a testing ground inside Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s manufacturing plant in Changwon, 300 km southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ The Arion-SMET unmanned ground vehicle trails a Hanwha official, acting as a soldier, demonstrating its "follow-me" capability during the showcasing at the company's manufacturing plant in Changwon, some 300 km southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2026, in this photo provided by Hanwha Aerospace. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ (From R to L) The K21 infantry fighting vehicle, the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, the Cheongung-II medium-range missile defense system, the Tigon wheeled armored vehicle and a fleet of three unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), including the Arion-SMET (front left), appear during a demonstration at a testing ground inside Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s manufacturing plant in Changwon, about 300 km southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ The Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher is manufactured at Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s plant in Changwon, some 300 km southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 14, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap).

By Kim Seung-yeon

CHANGWON, South Korea, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) -- A logistics soldier stood waiting beside a stack of supplies as a compact, crouching military vehicle rolled across the grounds.

Its six airless tires made a sharp 90-degree turn, accelerating effortlessly over uneven asphalt before stopping right by the serviceman's side.

As the soldier loaded the cargo bed, the matte green and brown robotic mule remained motionless, its sensors instantly registering the added weight. The moment the soldier stepped back, the autonomous vehicle smoothly pivoted away, speeding into the distance with the payload on its back.

The Arion-SMET unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a centerpiece of Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s next-generation uncrewed fleet, put its real-world operational capabilities on full display Monday at the company's flagship manufacturing plant in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The choreographed live demonstration showcased an array of Hanwha's key unmanned land defense systems either in production or under development, including the Arion-SMET and its upgraded version, GRUNT, as well as the Tigon armored vehicle and the THeMIS infantry support vehicle.

The 2.2-ton multipurpose Arion-SMET anchors the lighter end of Hanwha's versatile UGV lineup. With a top speed of 60 km/h and a range of 100 km on a single charge, it is designed to handle everything from hauling ammunition and evacuating casualties to tactical reconnaissance and close combat support.

"In the 'follow-me' mode, the Arion-SMET acts as an autonomous shadow, following the lead soldier at a safe, preset distance without requiring any manual controls," Koh Eunharry, a Hanwha official said during the demonstration.

It boasts its advanced remote controlled weapon system (RCWS) featuring a heavy-duty turret that can accommodate a 7.62-mm machine gun.

"The RCWS maintains the 'lock-on' mode on human targets ahead, while the platform's drive control ensures the weapon stays fixed on the target even while maneuvering over rugged terrain," Koh said.

Hanwha's small UGV portfolio is expanding rapidly, with the Arion-SMET set to be succeeded by the hybrid-fueled GRUNT. Hanwha is co-developing THeMIS, short for Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System, in collaboration with Estonia-based Milrem Robotics, tailoring the combat platform specifically for South Korean forces.

Development is also under way for medium and large UGV models, scaling up to heavy-duty platforms weighing between 20 and 30 tons.

The rapid development comes amid a critical domestic push. Hanwha won the contract in July to supply the Arion-SMET to the South Korean Army, marking the military's first operational procurement of a UGV platform.

The Army has been modernizing its ground forces in response to a changing warfare environment and a declining birthrate.

The Arion-SMET has also gained international traction after its previous version passed the U.S. military's Foreign Comparative Testing in 2023, a milestone Hanwha believes positioned it as a strong contender in the global UGV market.

Several countries, including Romania, Finland and Canada, have reportedly shown interest in the Arion-SMET and GRUNT lines, opening the door for potential multibillion-dollar export deals.

"We plan to produce 40 units by 2028 and deliver them to infantry units of the Army and the Marine Corps, all of which will be produced at this Changwon plant," said Lee Yun-su, a research engineer at the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) research and development (R&D) center.

Hanwha's existing flagship land systems, including the best-selling K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, are also being developed into "optionally unmanned" variants, aiming for completion by 2029.

The unmanned system drive keeps pace with the shifting realities of modern battlefields, where operations are moving into highly connected and AI-based networks for fast decision-making, deploying drones and robots at a massive scale to reduce human risk.

This is where Hanwha's MUM-T architecture comes in -- a future combat concept where human soldiers and autonomous equipment work as a synchronized team.

"We are now in the final stretch, with our eyes set on 2030 (for concept completion)," Park Mae-hun, senior vice president and head of Hanwha's MUM-T R&D Center, said during a meeting with the press. Hanwha aims to achieve full autonomous mission capabilities for the land systems by 2035.

As Hanwha doubles down on the burgeoning unmanned systems market, Park noted that the company is fully addressing the technology's ethical challenges as well.

"You can't just let the machine do everything. Certain actions strictly require human verification," Park said. "Even if the AI detects an enemy target, a human operator must confirm the threat, and a human must always be the one to pull the trigger."

(END)

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