Korean defense firms to unlock Middle East market potential at IDEX 2025
Korean defense companies are preparing to tap deeper into the market and attract more clients at the largest defense industry exhibition in the Middle East and Africa, taking place next week in the United Arab Emirates.
From Feb. 17 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, the International Defence Exhibition & Conference 2025 will feature Korean defense giants such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem and LIG Nex1, alongside 1,350 companies from 65 countries.
Korean companies will showcase their cutting-edge products in a region that includes seven of the top 20 global military asset importers from 2019-2023.
Hanwha Aerospace, a leading defense solutions provider covering land, sea and air, will set up its largest booth ever at IDEX in partnership with its radar-making unit, Hanwha Systems.
The booth will exhibit Korea's homegrown long-range surface-to-air missile, designed to intercept missiles at high altitudes of over 40 kilometers and developed in collaboration with LIG Nex1, for the first time at an overseas defense exhibition.
Hanwha will also present land-based air and missile defense systems, designed for low-altitude defense, typically targeting threats within 10-20 kilometers.
The firm will display its expanding range of air defense systems, designed to meet the growing global demand as countering missile and drone attacks becomes increasingly crucial in modern warfare.
The K9 self-propelled howitzer, a flagship product of Hanwha Aerospace, will also be showcased at the exhibition. Already adopted by nine countries, including Turkey and Egypt, the K9 is poised to expand its presence in additional markets, with its powerful capabilities and high mobility.
'We will showcase our cutting-edge multi-layer air defense solutions, the K9 equipped with a Korea-made engine and more products tailored to the needs of Middle Eastern countries,' said a Hanwha Aerospace official. 'We hope our response to regional security demands will contribute to peace and economic growth in the region.'
LIG Nex1 will also set up a booth to display its medium-range surface-to-air missile, Cheongung-II, dubbed the "Korean Patriot." Several countries in the Middle East have already adopted this system, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, validating its effectiveness in the region's unique security environment and climate.
With a focus on future warfare, LIG Nex1's booth will feature uncrewed defense systems, including uncrewed surface vessels and guided weapons designed to be deployed on various platforms.
Along with the companies, Seok Jong-gun, head of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and other DAPA officials are scheduled to visit IDEX. The group aims to promote Korean products and explore future collaboration opportunities with defense authorities attending the event.
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