Hanwha Systems, Austrian firm to develop airborne communications UAV

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Systems, a division of the Hanwha Group, convened a kickoff meeting with Austrian UAV manufacturer Schiebel to explore the global UAV export market. This meeting followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May, aimed at jointly developing an airborne communications UAV. The collaboration seeks to establish a presence in the global UAV communications sector by merging Hanwha Systems' cutting-edge communications and avionics systems with Schiebel's established UAV platforms.

According to a press release, the partnership aims to not only lead the next-generation UAV market by strengthening ties with Schiebel, but also to expand the utilization of their systems in both domestic and international markets. An airborne communications UAV is a sophisticated unmanned aircraft equipped with a 5G base station, airborne relay communications equipment, and associated avionics, designed to provide continuous tactical communication links across diverse battlefield scenarios.