Hanwha Aerospace showcases next-generation unmanned ground fleet in Changwon

A 2.2-ton Arion-SMET rolled across uneven asphalt on six airless tires, made a sharp 90-degree turn and stopped beside a logistics soldier waiting with supplies. The soldier loaded the cargo bed, and the matte green and brown robotic mule remained motionless as its sensors registered the added weight. Once the soldier stepped back, the autonomous vehicle pivoted away and sped into the distance with the payload. The demonstration also included the upgraded GRUNT, the Tigon armored vehicle and the THeMIS infantry support vehicle.

Hanwha describes the Arion-SMET as a multipurpose UGV with a top speed of 60 km/h and a range of 100 km on a single charge. It is designed for tasks including hauling ammunition, evacuating casualties, 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. The vehicle has a remote controlled weapon system with 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, with the Arion-SMET set to be succeeded by the hybrid-fueled GRUNT. The company is co-developing THeMIS, short for Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System, with Estonia-based Milrem Robotics, tailoring the combat platform for South Korean forces. Hanwha is also developing medium and large UGV models, scaling up to heavy-duty platforms weighing between 20 and 30 tons.

The push comes as South Korea's military modernizes ground forces in response to a changing warfare environment and a declining birthrate. Hanwha won a contract in July to supply the Arion-SMET to the South Korean Army, marking the military's first operational procurement of a UGV platform. Lee Yun-su, a research engineer at Hanwha's manned-unmanned teaming research and development center, said the company plans to produce 40 units by 2028 and deliver them to infantry units of the Army and Marine Corps. All will be produced at the Changwon plant.

The Arion-SMET's 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.

Hanwha is also developing "optionally unmanned" variants of its existing flagship land systems, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, with completion targeted for 2029. The unmanned drive keeps pace with modern battlefields that are moving into highly connected, AI-based networks for fast decision-making and deploying drones and robots at a massive scale to reduce human risk.

Central to that effort is Hanwha's MUM-T architecture, a future combat concept in which human soldiers and autonomous equipment work as a synchronized team. Park Mae-hun, senior vice president and head of Hanwha's MUM-T R&D Center, said during a meeting with the press that the company is in the final stretch and aims for concept completion in 2030. Hanwha aims to achieve full autonomous mission capabilities for its land systems by 2035.

Park also addressed the technology's ethical challenges. "You can't just let the machine do everything. Certain actions strictly require human verification," he 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."