“Game-Changer in the Skies: Hanwha Systems and Milkor Aerospace Unite to Elevate UAV Tech with Advanced AESA SAR Radar”
Paris, France – 16 June 2025 — Hanwha Systems, a prominent South Korean defense technology enterprise, and Milkor Aerospace and Defence, a leading producer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to incorporate Hanwha’s cutting-edge Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system on the Milkor 380, a premier Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV platform.
Formalized at the 2025 Paris Air Show, this alliance aspires to deliver a fully fused, export-ready surveillance and reconnaissance offering to both regional and global markets. The MoU was executed by Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE, and Hyuck Park, Senior Vice President of Hanwha Systems’ Defense Electronics Business Division.
“This collaboration unites two highly proficient organizations that enhance each other’s strengths,” expressed Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE. “We are eager to continue our joint efforts with Hanwha. By merging our assets and skill sets, we believe we can unlock remarkable opportunities, not only in the Middle East but across international markets.”
Hyuck Park, Senior Vice President of Hanwha, stated, “This partnership enables us to fuse Hanwha’s advanced technology with Milkor’s inventive platforms to provide next-generation defense capabilities to global clients.”
The Milkor 380 is a versatile UAV engineered for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) as well as precision strike operations. It features over 30 hours of operational endurance, a payload capacity that exceeds 220 kg, and a range surpassing 4,000 km. The platform is equipped with multiple hardpoints, SATCOM capabilities, and a modular open systems architecture, making it highly versatile for various mission profiles.
Hanwha Systems offers profound knowledge in AESA radar technology, having created state-of-the-art airborne radar solutions. The incorporation of its SAR payload will arm the Milkor 380 with high-definition imaging, Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication (GMTI/MMTI), and all-weather reconnaissance capabilities—substantially improving its efficiency in intelligence-gathering and situational awareness.
