Hanwha Aerospace Showcases UGV Capabilities at US Military Facility in South Korea
Hanwha Aerospace has effectively showcased the potential of its versatile unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), known as Arion-SMET, at a U.S. Army Garrison in South Korea, demonstrating the vehicle’s advanced robotic and unmanned technologies.
The exhibition of the 2-ton UGV occurred on November 29 at Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base globally, situated in Pyeongtaek, approximately 70 kilometers south of Seoul. Hanwha Aerospace and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) have been engaged in discussions regarding potential partnerships on next-generation UGV innovations for an extended period.
During the technology presentation, the Arion-SMET showcased various unmanned technologies assisting infantry forces on the battlefield, including remote-operated and autonomous navigation on both paved and unpaved surfaces; obstacle detection; self-navigation in case of communication disruptions; gunfire source identification; and vehicle/soldier tracking.
“The Arion-SMET has already demonstrated its exceptional operational capabilities during a ROK Army assessment earlier this year as part of a program dedicated to evaluating the effectiveness of weapon systems for international exports,” stated Executive Vice President Youngwoo Seo at Hanwha Aerospace’s Land Systems Business Group. “We are committed to successfully completing the upcoming FCT and aspire to engage in the U.S. DoD’s rapid acquisition pathway in the future.”
In October, the Arion-SMET was selected as one of the ground systems to undergo testing by the U.S. military within the FCT program, designed to evaluate mature foreign technologies that can bridge existing capability gaps within U.S. forces. This marks the first instance of a Korean-manufactured unmanned ground system participating in such a field test initiative. The Arion-SMET (Autonomous and Robotic Systems for Intelligence Off-road Navigation – Small Multi-purpose Equipment Transport) is grounded in a prior 4×4 UGV developed in 2019 from a collaborative civilian-military endeavor in South Korea.
The 6×6 electric-powered vehicle was engineered to support infantry tasks, such as cargo transport, medical retrieval, reconnaissance, and fire support. The vehicle can travel up to 100km when fully charged and boasts a maximum payload capacity of 550kg, greatly enhancing its combat support and maneuverability. It is also outfitted with a state-of-the-art remote-controlled weapons station that can detect and track enemy combatants, pinpoint the origin of gunfire, and return fire towards the source of the attack. With these cutting-edge features, the Arion-SMET is perfected for facilitating manned and unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations for infantry units.
