Artillery Goes Autonomous: Hanwha Aerospace Presents Unmanned Rocket Launcher

South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace has presented the concept of an unmanned MLRS, similar to its existing K239 Chunmoo platform.

The presentation took place at the MADEX 2025 exhibition, according to Defence24.

The new system is expected to weigh around 17 tons and is designed for deployment on a variety of platforms, including naval vessels.

In other words, the new launcher can be effectively used in conditions of dispersed landing operations and coastal defense, both from the deck of ships and from land.

The launcher is being developed under contract with South Korea’s Ministry of Defense.

Its capabilities aim to support dispersed amphibious operations and coastal defense, with potential deployment from both ship decks and land-based platforms.

Unmanned self-propelled howitzer K9

Earlier in May, Hanwha Aerospace also presented the K9A3, an optionally unmanned upgrade of the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer.

The new version is capable of remote and fully autonomous operation, including both navigation and firing.

The K9A3 is equipped with a 155-mm gun featuring a barrel length of 58 calibers, a notable increase from the 52-caliber barrel on the original K9.

This enhancement is expected to extend the weapon’s effective range to up to 80 kilometers using precision-guided munitions.

The new howitzer may target European buyers, where demand for advanced artillery systems has been growing since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Global trend

As drone strikes increasingly threaten traditional artillery, militaries worldwide are accelerating the transition to unmanned or remotely operated launchers.

On March 25, U.S.-based Oshkosh Defense unveiled its ROGUE-Fire platform — an unmanned rocket launcher that integrates the MFOM (MLRS Family of Munitions) container.

The system can fire both unguided and precision missiles, including GMLRS, ER GMLRS, ATACMS, GLSDB, and the upcoming PrSM.

In May 2024, it was reported that the first live fire tests of the HIMARS missile system’s unmanned launcher took place in the United States.

The autonomous version of the rocket launcher has the abbreviation AML (Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher).

The AML prototype is built on the basis of the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), but lacks a crew cabin and incorporates a redesigned control and engine section, reflecting a broader trend toward robotic artillery systems.