On the 15th (local time), at the Nor Villepinte exhibition center in Paris, France, where Eurosatory 2026 opened. Befitting Europe's largest defense industry exhibition, people in navy and defense-colored uniforms caught the eye from all directions as soon as you entered the venue.
Upon entering Hyundai Rotem's booth, a group in Romanian military uniforms was listening to an explanation about the HR-Sherpa multipurpose unmanned vehicle. Hyundai Rotem, together with Deputy Minister Won Jong-dae of the Ministry of National Defense, adeptly introduced each mission system mounted on the HR-Sherpa to Romanian military officials.
They also looked over the export model of the K2 tank on display at the booth and listened to explanations. A moment later, Europeans in suits who walked in were also staring with interest at the HR-Sherpa that Hyundai Rotem showcased.
A significant number of on-site attendees were listening to explanations about unmanned systems at defense corporations' booths. As the Russia-Ukraine war has come to be known as a "drone war," each company is unveiling ground and aerial unmanned systems, and even AI air defense networks, driving the change. In the end, the core of Europe's rearmament plans boils down to "unmanned."
◆Key keyword in Europe's defense industry: "unmanned"
Unmanned systems were displayed next to conventional weapons such as tanks and armored vehicles at the 2024 exhibition. But this year, they were deployed prominently at the front of booths. The heightened importance was palpable. An official in Korea's defense industry said, "The fight for technological leadership among European defense corporations is heating up around unmanned systems."
Among the items displayed at the center of the outdoor booth of KNDS, a German-French joint venture, were the CENTURIO medium multipurpose tactical vehicle and THEMIS. They represent KNDS's unmanned vehicles.
The displayed vehicles were equipped with autocannons, but they can be swapped with desired equipment. A KNDS official said, "In the case of THEMIS, using a crane and other tools, mission equipment can be replaced in 10 minutes."
The official added, "The two models are at the core of KNDS's manned-unmanned teaming system and are infused with combat experience." They are expected to be used together with the next-generation tank CAPINT unveiled at this exhibition.
Unmanned ground turrets also appeared in numbers. Representative is KNDS's Rapidfire Land, a ground version of the close-in weapon system (CIWS) formerly mounted on warships.
The exhibited product was the type fixed on the ground and operated remotely. It is a weapon to protect key hub infrastructure such as power plants from drone attacks.
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) also unveiled the tracked combat robot Wolf G1, which mounts an unmanned turret on an unmanned vehicle. Linked with an unmanned aerial vehicle command vehicle, this robot is designed to maneuver alongside the company's wheeled armored vehicles, enabling simultaneous air defense and attack.
Estonian corporation Milrem Robotics showcased its latest large unmanned combat vehicle, HAVOC. This is the first time the actual platform has been revealed.
This vehicle is designed to be remotely controlled without a human driver. It can reach a top speed of 110 km/h. In addition to an autocannon, a missile launcher and drones are integrated, allowing for diverse uses. A Milrem official described it as "a robot deployed ahead of people."
◆Ukraine emphasizes air defenses and drones… UAE advances into Europe
One feature of this year's Eurosatory is the large participation of Ukrainian companies. There were five in 2024, but that number has grown to around 80 this year.
Drawing attention at the exhibition was Firepoint, which visited Eurosatory for the first time. Its pink FP-5 Flamingo long-range cruise missile, displayed at the center, is the company's flagship model. The booth also showed on-screen footage of striking Russia with its products.
Ukrainian state-owned defense corporation Spetstechnoexport unveiled the "Dragon" air defense system, which modifies air-to-air missiles for ground launch. It integrates air-to-air missiles into a ground launcher for automatic firing.
Many of the weapons showcased by Ukraine are said to be the result of efforts to leverage standard weapons in any form possible, given the urgency of the domestic battlefield. The startup Ukramo Tech displayed numerous low-cost loitering munitions costing in the hundreds of thousands of won.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned defense corporation EDGE also came to Eurosatory for the second consecutive time. The company officially announced it would establish EDGE Europe this year. It amounts to putting down roots in Europe, beyond simply securing equity stakes in companies such as Milrem Robotics.
The company also formed a joint venture with French aerospace corporation Safran to develop next-generation missiles and weapons. The UAE is also cooperating with Korean defense companies. What EDGE unveiled were the Shadow 25 precision-strike loitering munition and the PhantomHawk vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aircraft.
◆Korean defense firms join the competition with unmanned robots
Hyundai Rotem set up a Hyundai Motor Group booth with Hyundai WIA. What Hyundai Rotem unveiled was a lineup of unmanned vehicles outfitted with separate mission equipment. It displayed an unmanned vehicle integrating various radars with the Shingung medium-range man-portable air-defense system and the Hyeongung medium-range anti-tank guided weapon.
In addition, Hyundai Rotem showcased an unmanned turret-type layered counter-drone defense system that intercepts enemy missiles and drones in stages from up to 4 km down to 20 meters.
Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group's robotics affiliate, set up a booth and displayed its quadruped robot Spot. During the exhibition, Spot demonstrated opening a door using its robotic arm. A Boston Dynamics official said, "It is being used by multiple countries, including the U.S. military, for purposes such as reconnaissance," adding, "We are participating to promote that."
Hanwha Aerospace also put unmanned vehicles at the forefront. Centered on the K-NIFV—an improved version of Australia's Redback armored vehicle and Hanwha's proposed next-generation armored vehicle—it introduced a concept operating unmanned vehicles such as the H-UGV and UCL-L in conjunction.
The H-UGV and UCL-L are unmanned vehicles being co-developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Hanwha Aerospace. The H-SHORAD and H-SHIELD, a counter-drone defense system and a surface-to-air composite weapon system, were also displayed.
Poongsan displayed, in addition to its popular 155 mm high-explosive shells in the European market, multipurpose drones with swappable mission equipment.
A defense industry official said, "Europe, like us, is focusing on weapon systems that can be used efficiently while reducing personnel," adding, "Korea's defense sector must also accelerate unmanned technologies."