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A combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon of Hanwha Systems. / Hanwha Systems

Hanwha Systems has successfully demonstrated drone interception using laser anti-aircraft weapons during an integrated future warfare combat exercise hosted by the Army.

Hanwha Systems announced on the 15th that it intercepted all three drones using the Cheongwang (Block-I) laser anti-aircraft weapon and a combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon during the "Army TIGER+ Integrated Future Warfare Combat Exercise" organized by Army Headquarters on the 14th.

Around 500 people attended the exercise, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Kyu-ha, key military officials, and industry, academic, and research experts.

Cheongwang is a laser anti-aircraft weapon developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), with Hanwha Systems participating as the prototype contractor, marking the world's first laser weapon system deployed in actual combat. It costs about 2,000 won per shot and operates solely on an electric power supply without requiring separate ammunition resupply.

The combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon is a 30-kilowatt (kW) mobile laser weapon system developed under Hanwha Systems' leadership, with project management handled by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT). Its primary components were miniaturized and lightened for installation on combat vehicles, and phase-change-based cooling technology was applied to manage heat generated during high-output operations.

In September, Hanwha Systems also used Cheongwang to intercept four drones and two unmanned aerial vehicles at the "2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition" held at the Army's Seungjin Training Field. At that time, the company also unveiled a "50kW laser armored vehicle" under development for overseas markets. This weapon system is designed with enhanced mobility and output to reflect foreign customer requirements, with development scheduled through 2027.

Shin Joo-hoon, head of the Laser Business Center at Hanwha Systems, said, "Laser weapons are a core game-changer that will transform future air defense." He added, "We will aggressively target the global market, spearheading our push with Cheongwang, which boasts proven operational performance, and the 50kW laser armored vehicle, which features outstanding mobility and high-output interception capabilities."

                                                                                                             Kim So-young