Hanwha Systems announced on the 15th that it successfully completed a drone interception demonstration utilizing 'Cheonggwang (Block-I Laser Air Defense Weapon)' and a 'Combat Vehicle-Mounted High-Energy Laser Cannon' at the 'Army TIGER+ Future Warfare Integrated Combat Execution Training,' held under the auspices of the Republic of Korea Army Headquarters.
The Army TIGER+ Future Warfare Integrated Combat Execution Training is a realistic training exercise in which the Republic of Korea Army utilizes combat assets equipped with advanced defense technologies to master highly refined operational capabilities in response to future battlefield environments. On this day, Cheonggwang and the 30kW (kilowatt)-class combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon demonstrated their interception performance by achieving a 100% hit rate on three deployed drones.
The Block-I laser air defense weapon Cheonggwang, which participated in the demonstration, is the world's first operational laser weapon developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with Hanwha Systems participating as the prototype manufacturer. It is a highly efficient weapon system that costs only approximately 2,000 won per shot and can operate continuously for 24 hours solely on power supply without the need for separate ammunition resupply.
The demonstration of Cheonggwang's operational performance is a representative achievement resulting from the combination of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's efforts to rapidly acquire and deploy advanced weapon systems and the technological capabilities of defense companies. It is evaluated as a fruit that shone through the interlocking of the unique technological expertise of the Agency for Defense Development and Hanwha Systems under the advanced weapon system acquisition roadmap led by the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. In particular, Cheonggwang also achieved a 100% interception rate on four drones and two unmanned aerial vehicles in succession at the '2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition' held at the Army Promotion Training Ground last September.
Hanwha Systems' combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon is a 30kW-class mobile laser weapon system developed under the project management of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Technology (KRIT) with Hanwha Systems as the lead developer. Key components were miniaturized and lightweighted to facilitate mounting on combat vehicles. By applying 'phase-change-based cooling technology' that efficiently controls heat generated during high-power operation, mobility and operational stability were enhanced.
Shin Ju-hoon, Director of the Laser Business Center at Hanwha Systems, stated, "Laser weapons are a core game-changer that will change the landscape of future air defense," adding, "We will target the global market by leading with Cheonggwang, which has verified operational performance, and 50kW laser armored vehicles equipped with excellent mobility and high-power interception capabilities."
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