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Hanwha Aerospace has partnered with U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman to launch full-scale development of a new long-range missile system. Industry observers say the move gives Hanwha a strategic beachhead for entering the U.S. defense market.
Hanwha Aerospace said on the 22nd that it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northrop Grumman on the 21st (local time) at the Sea-Air-Space 2026 exhibition in National Harbor, Maryland. The MOA covers joint development of the first-stage solid-fuel propulsion system for the AReS (Advanced Reactive Strike) missile.
A Hanwha Aerospace official said, \”In a rapidly changing era of modern warfare, a robust defense-industrial base is essential for the U.S. and its allies to maintain credible deterrence. Through this collaboration, we will advance the technology and manufacturing capabilities required to compete in the U.S. defense market.\”
AReS is a ground-launched, long-range missile system Northrop Grumman is developing. The program calls for advanced propulsion capable of supporting fast maneuvers followed by rapid launch. Under the agreement, Hanwha will participate from the early development phase of the first-stage rocket motor, leveraging its global production footprint and advanced manufacturing techniques to accelerate development and production. The partners aim to demonstrate the jointly developed system in 2027.
A Northrop Grumman official said, \”As air and maritime threats evolve rapidly, developing weapons that preserve U.S. and allied overmatch is critical. We will work with Hanwha Aerospace to deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions.\”
Analysts view the collaboration as a significant step in Hanwha Aerospace’s push into the U.S. market.
To date, Hanwha has expanded global exports centered on land systems such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket system. Joining a major U.S. defense prime like Northrop Grumman—whose contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense run into the tens of trillions of KRW (roughly tens of billions of USD)—signals Hanwha’s intent to move beyond parts supplier status and become an integrated partner in the U.S. defense industrial base.
With modern conflict increasingly oriented toward precision, long-range strike, defense analysts will be watching whether Hanwha Aerospace can turn this agreement into a lasting foothold in the U.S. market.
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