Hyundai Rotem said on the 9th that it will take part in the Saudi Arabia (Saudi) World Defense Show (WDS) 2026 to target the Middle East market.
Now in its third edition, WDS runs from the 8th (local time) to the 12th at the Riyadh Convention Center in Saudi Arabia. The show, the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, is a key event of the "Vision 2030" strategy to localize the defense industry being pursued by the Saudi government.
At this exhibition, Hyundai Rotem plans to focus on laying the groundwork for entering the Middle East market by highlighting ground weapon systems and technologies to respond to future battlefields. In particular, it will showcase core defense technologies such as maneuver weapon systems, manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and hydrogen mobility.
At its booth, Hyundai Rotem will present mock-ups of various K2 tank-based variants, including an obstacle-clearing tank and an armored recovery vehicle, centered on the K2 tank. It will also display export-version 30-ton class wheeled armored vehicles along with mock-ups of a command post vehicle and a medical evacuation vehicle that use the existing wheeled armored vehicle platform. After first exporting the K2 tank to Poland in July 2022, Hyundai Rotem signed a master agreement with Peru in Dec. 2024 to supply tanks and wheeled armored vehicles.
For the first time at this show, Hyundai Rotem will also unveil the HR-Sherpa, a multipurpose unmanned vehicle integrated with a counter-drone system (C-UAS). In this defense system, radar detects drones to establish a defense posture and carry out perimeter and surveillance missions. A Hyundai Rotem official said, "As the scope of drone use expands on the battlefield, the HR-Sherpa equipped with a counter-drone system is expected to play a key role in tactical operations."
In addition, it will debut overseas the Black Veil, a hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned mobility electrification platform that made its first appearance at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) last year. Black Veil can carry out covert missions with low-noise movement and, with a four-wheel-drive layout like a regular car, has a fully open cargo bed. Depending on installed equipment, it can be used for a range of purposes in both military and civilian fields, including combat and logistics transport.
A Hyundai Rotem official said, "We plan to showcase the diverse operational capabilities of ground weapon systems based on cutting-edge future technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned systems, and hydrogen to match the rapidly changing future battlefield environment."