Hyundai Rotem showcased an unmanned firefighting robot in Romania, extending the reach of K-defense into disaster response. Hyundai Rotem plans to target Romania by leveraging its packaged capabilities that include various unmanned systems, the K2 tank, and high-speed trains on top of the unmanned firefighting robot.
Hyundai Rotem said on the 15th that it held a demonstration of its unmanned firefighting robot for the Romanian disaster response authority (GIES) and local media at the defense exhibition "BSDA 2026" in Bucharest, Romania, on the 14th (local time). About 100 students from the firefighting academy attended the event, along with officials including GIES Deputy Director Silviu Stoián.
That day, Hyundai Rotem demonstrated a scenario in which the unmanned firefighting robot performs a fire suppression mission. The unmanned firefighting robot quickly responded to a model fire scene and showcased technologies including advanced driving capability, a self-spraying system that can protect the robot in high-temperature fire environments, and fire extinguishing performance.
The unmanned firefighting robot was developed based on Hyundai Rotem's HR-Sherpa, a multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The equipment was built for fire suppression by adding advanced Autonomous Driving assistance systems, an artificial intelligence (AI) vision-enhancement camera, and a remote control device to a military unmanned vehicle.
In addition, Hyundai Rotem demonstrated joint operation mission scenarios using unmanned systems such as the HR-Sherpa and a legged robot. Beyond core defense products such as the K2 tank and an armored recovery vehicle, the company focused on highlighting its overall package business capabilities, including high-speed trains and hydrogen-based rail mobility.
Chief Executive Officer Lee Yong-bae of Hyundai Rotem said, "Starting with this demonstration, we will become a dependable partner in strengthening the Romanian government's disaster response capabilities," and added, "Hyundai Rotem will continue to quietly contribute to a safer future for Romania based on its unmanned systems technology."