Hanwha Aerospace has enlisted BAE Systems to integrate anti-jamming GPS technology into its Deep Strike Capability weapons platform, as the South Korean defense contractor looks to counter sophisticated electronic warfare threats targeting its guided missile systems.
The partnership announced Thursday combines BAE’s military GPS expertise with Hanwha’s rocket launcher technology, specifically targeting the company’s Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system that has become a key export earner. The collaboration aims to meet NATO interoperability standards, potentially expanding market access for the platform.
Billy Boowhan Lee, head of Hanwha’s precision-guided munitions division, cited the need to secure advanced electronic warfare protection technology. Luke Bishop, BAE’s navigation systems director, emphasized providing operators with reliable systems in contested environments.
The timing follows Hanwha’s aggressive international expansion. The company recently secured 402.4 billion won ($287 million) in guided weapons contracts with an undisclosed Middle Eastern nation and signed deals worth billions with Poland for Chunmoo systems. A separate 342.3 billion won ($245 million) domestic production contract was inked in November.
The Deep Strike Capability platform fires various munitions including the CTM-290 missile with 290-kilometer range. While Hanwha promotes the system’s precision capabilities, the partnership underscores growing concerns about electronic warfare vulnerabilities in modern guided weapons platforms as adversaries develop more sophisticated jamming technologies.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of their cooperation agreement.
