Hanwha Systems performed a live intercept of several drones with its Cheongwang laser counter-drone system plus a vehicle-mounted 30kW high-energy laser on 14 October 2026.
The demonstration took place during an Army TIGER+ (which stands for Transformative Innovation of Ground forces Enhanced by 4th industrial Revolution technology) future warfare integrated combat exercise hosted by the Republic of Korea Army Headquarters.
The event, where all three drone targets were successfully downed, was attended by around 500 military officials, academics and industry experts.
This demonstration followed another on 16 September where six UAVs in succession were neutralised at the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition in South Korea.
Developed in conjunction with the Agency for Defense Development, the containerised Cheongwang (which translates as “light of the sky”) 20kW laser system is referred to as the Laser Air Defense Weapon Block-I.
By May, a South Korean-manufactured laser oscillator had replaced the original German component, opening the path for mass production. An official said the local laser oscillator offers around 50% better performance, and that it can bring down a first-person-view drone in 1-2 seconds, while a fixed-wing UAV takes several seconds.
After entering service in December 2024 to protect key South Korean installations, Hanwha Systems describes the Cheongwang as “the world’s first deployed system of its kind”. Around five units have been deployed so far, with another ten set to be fielded to protect sites such as the National Assembly.
A truck-mounted Block-II version of the Cheongwang will be mobile, rather than the fixed nature of the Block-I version. This future system will also incorporate a radar and jammer.
The aforementioned 50kW laser also took part in the demonstration. This has seen the laser mounted on a Hyundai Rotem K808 8×8 armoured vehicle. Hanwha Systems stated this so-called 50kW Laser Armored Vehicle is currently under in-house development for export.
Hanwha had exhibited the system at the MSPO 2026 exhibition in Poland, where the company said production is planned to commence in late 2027.
With low-cost drones emerging as a serious threat on contemporary battlefields, an air defence role is being found for high-energy weapons such as lasers. The Cheongwang costs as little as US$1.50 per firing. Of course, lasers also have an advantage of not requiring reloading. As long as they have a power source, they can continue firing.
Joohun Shin, Head of the Laser Systems Business Center at Hanwha Systems, stated, “Laser weapons are core assets that will fundamentally change the game of air defence.”
He continued, “Driven by unmatched technological capability and proven operational performance, we will accelerate our entry into the global market to establish both Cheongwang and the high-mobility, high-power 50kW Laser Armored Vehicle as key next-generation export items for K-Defense.”
by Gordon Arthur
