Weapons for ground forces, manufactured by Hanwha, are on display at the Defense Expo Korea 2016, a four-day exhibition that began Wednesday at the KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye

The nation's biggest exhibition of weaponry kicked off Wednesday for a four-day run at the KINTEX exhibition hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

The Defense Expo Korea 2016 (DX Korea), hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army supported by the Ministry of National Defense, is to promote overseas sale of South Korean-made weapons and systems, and boost cooperation between local and foreign defense firms.

The ministry said some 400 defense industry companies from 35 countries, including the United States, Germany and Israel, are participating in this year's event, noting that it is gaining more attention from overseas customers.

Some 80 high-ranking military officials including army chiefs of staff from participating nations are attending the biennial event.

"The prime goal of DX Korea is to help Korean firms export the weapons they produce ranging from K-9 self-propelled howitzers and K-21 armored fighting vehicles to the Hyungung anti-tank guided missile," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said.

Domestically, four defense units of Hanwha Group _ Hanwha Corp., Hanwha Techwin, Hanwha Defense Systems and Hanwha Thales, set up a combined exhibition booth for the first time to present their weapon systems and introduce their integrated competence in the defense industry.

The group said it is seeking to explore synergy among the four defense units as, for example, Hanwha Corp. is in charge of the system integration for the Chunmoo multiple rocket launching system (MRLS), while Hanwha Defense Systems is responsible for the development and operation of the launcher. Hanwha Corp. is also responsible for the system integration for L-SAM long-range surface-to-air interceptor missiles, which are currently under development, while Hanwha Thales is responsible for the radar. Hanwha Defense Systems is in charge of the launcher.

"This exhibition is very meaningful as we are presenting a combined exhibition stand for the first time since the four defense units were integrated," said the CEO of Hanwha Corp., Lee Tae-jong. "We will enhance the image of Hanwha as an integrated defense systems provider through this show and will promote a new domestic business as well as implement an active marketing strategy with global enterprises."

The company noted that there will be full-sized models of the Chunmoo MRLS, K9 self-propelled howitzer and Biho hybrid variant of the self propelled air defense gun carrier integrated with indigenously developed Shingung guided missiles.

Other domestic defense companies attending the exhibition include LIG Nex1, Poongsan Corp. and Hyundai-Rotem Co.

Ordinary visitors will be allowed to watch demonstrations of the KIA1 and K-2 main battle tanks and to experience an armored vehicle in a separate outdoor exhibition hall from Sept. 7 to 9. On Sept. 10, they will be allowed to look around the exhibition venue, the ministry said.