Hanwha Aerospace has partnered with Estonia-based Milrem Robotics to jointly compete for Romania’s unmanned ground vehicle program, with the agreement signed during the BSDA 2026 defense exhibition in Bucharest. Hanwha’s Romanian subsidiary is expected to act as prime contractor if the proposal advances, while the project emphasizes local industrial participation and domestic manufacturing integration. The proposed solution combines several robotic systems tailored for different battlefield functions, including Hanwha’s Arion-SMET unmanned logistics vehicle, the larger GRUNT 6×6 modular transport platform, and Milrem’s THeMIS hybrid-powered tracked UGV. Ahead of the exhibition, the companies conducted a live manned-unmanned teaming demonstration near Bucharest involving the TIGON armored vehicle alongside GRUNT and THeMIS systems. The exercise simulated reconnaissance, battlefield resupply, casualty evacuation, and drone-assisted situational awareness in electronically contested environments. The Romanian bid forms part of Hanwha’s broader expansion strategy across Europe’s growing defense market.
