Wire flash
TechHanwha unveils 50 kW laser-armed armored vehicle for counter-drone missions
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
At the MSPO defense industry show in Kielce, Poland, South Korea's Hanwha Systems announced plans to build a 50 kW Laser Armored Vehicle (LAV) designed to counter drones. The vehicle mounts a more powerful version of the stationary Cheongwang laser system, which has been deployed by South Korea's military since 2024 at strategic sites including the presidential Blue House compound. Hanwha executive Hyungun Park stated that each laser shot costs approximately 2,000 Korean won ($1.5), making it a highly cost-efficient counter-drone weapon. The laser is integrated onto a Tigon eight-wheel-drive armored personnel carrier platform to provide mobility and the ability to track fast-moving targets. A prototype has been developed, and serial production is planned by the end of 2027. Hanwha is in active export talks with potential clients in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as NATO eastern flank countries seek inexpensive counter-drone solutions.
Source report
KIELCE, Poland — As Poland and other NATO eastern flank countries seek cost-effective solutions to bolster their counter-drone capabilities, South Korea’s Hanwha is pitching a new mobile laser system to militaries across the region.
Speaking on the opening day of the annual MSPO defense industry show in Kielce, Poland, company representatives unveiled a 50 kW laser mounted on an armored vehicle. The system features a more powerful version of the stationary Cheongwang laser, which has been in service with South Korea's military since 2024.
Cheongwang has been deployed at strategically important sites, including near the Blue House — the office and residence of South Korea's president.
Export Talks Underway
“We are currently in talks with a number of countries over potential exports of the Cheongwang laser, including potential clients from Europe, Asia and the Middle East,” said Hyungun Park, manager of the laser system business team at Hanwha Systems.
Park highlighted a key advantage of the system: each laser shot costs approximately 2,000 Korean won ($1.50), making it a highly cost-efficient way to counter drones.
Mobile Platform Integration
To meet military demand for a mobile laser solution capable of tracking fast-moving targets, Hanwha has integrated its laser technology with a wheeled platform — the Tigon eight-wheel-drive armored personnel carrier.
“Our new product is the 50 kW Laser Armored Vehicle. We have developed a prototype, and we plan to launch serial production of this vehicle by the end of 2027,” the executive said.
About the Author
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.
Source
Defense NewsWestern
Part of this Story
Hanwha unveils 50 kW laser-armed armored vehicle for counter-drone missions at Polish defense show