Hanwha Reveals Innovative Defense Solutions for Saudi National Guard Advancements
Distinguished members from the Ministry of National Guard (MNG) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited a ROK Army firing range on November 5 to observe a collaborative firepower demonstration featuring key South Korean armaments.
H.R.H. Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of MNG, led the team at the invitation of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense and Hanwha Aerospace, South Korea’s premier defense contractor, as part of initiatives aimed at reinforcing the bilateral defense partnership.
A diverse array of Hanwha’s artillery systems and armored combat vehicles displayed their validated operational prowess during the live-fire showcase, attended by MNG representatives along with South Korean officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and Hanwha Aerospace.
Throughout the exercise, a unit of 18 K9A1 Self-Propelled Howitzers effectively fired over 90 rounds into a designated strike zone, while K30W Chunho (Sky Tiger) anti-aircraft gun wheeled armored vehicles and K30 Biho (Flying Tiger) self-propelled anti-aircraft setups unleashed heavy machine gun fire upon aerial targets. The K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle showcased its impressive amphibious maneuverability on the battlefield.
The event also highlighted the debut of innovative combat platforms designed to meet the requirements of the KSA. These include the 155mm Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer featuring an automated unmanned turret; a Laser-Based Anti-Aircraft Weapon; the TIGON wheeled armored vehicle equipped with either anti-tank guided missiles or a 120mm mortar; and the Hybrid Short-Range Air Defense (H-SHORAD) wheeled system armed with a 30mm gun unmanned turret plus a surface-to-air missile system.
“Today, we had an exceptional opportunity to present our state-of-the-art defense technologies and products to the MNG delegation,” expressed Vice President Oh Kyeahwan, Head of Hanwha Aerospace Middle East & Africa. “Hanwha is fully committed to providing superior defense solutions across all air, sea, and land domains to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a robust bilateral partnership.”
After the collaborative firepower demonstration, the KSA delegation is poised to assess Hanwha’s cutting-edge air defense systems, including the laser-guided anti-aircraft weapon, later this week.
The day before, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan met with H.R.H. Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to explore pathways for enhancing bilateral cooperation in economic and security sectors. During their discussion in Seoul, Kim underscored Hanwha’s unwavering commitment to supporting KSA’s Vision 2030 initiative and defense modernization efforts. Both parties also agreed to undertake cooperative actions to address security challenges in the Middle East.
