Hanwha Aerospace has joined forces with Estonia’s Milrem Robotics in a bid to secure Romania’s planned unmanned ground vehicle programme, underscoring how European militaries are increasingly turning to robotic systems and local industrial partnerships as they modernise their land forces.
The agreement was signed at the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2026 exhibition in Bucharest by Hanwha Aerospace, its Romanian subsidiary Hanwha Aerospace Romania, and Milrem Robotics. A...
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ccording to the companies, the arrangement is designed to combine Hanwha’s wheeled unmanned platforms with Milrem’s tracked systems, while also meeting Romania’s preference for domestic production and industrial involvement.
Hanwha said its Romanian unit is expected to take the lead role if the bid progresses, with plans centred on local manufacturing and supply-chain participation. The South Korean group intends to offer wheeled platforms derived from its Arion-SMET and GRUNT vehicles, while Milrem would contribute its THeMIS tracked system and associated autonomy technologies.
The THeMIS has become one of Europe’s best-known unmanned ground vehicles, with a modular design, hybrid propulsion and the ability to carry different payloads for logistics, reconnaissance and combat support. Milrem has said the platform is already in serial production and is in use, or involved in programmes, in more than 20 countries.
The partnership is not limited to Romania. Hanwha and Milrem said the cooperation is also meant to strengthen their prospects in wider European and international markets, where demand is rising for systems that can reduce risk to personnel and support battlefield mobility, surveillance and resupply.
Hanwha’s broader push into Europe has increasingly focused on localisation, co-production and technology transfer, particularly in countries looking to build up their own defence industries alongside new procurement programmes. The company has showcased unmanned and AI-enabled systems at BSDA 2026, including its GRUNT wheeled platform and a tracked variant linked to the THeMIS family.
Ahead of the exhibition, the two companies also staged a live manned-unmanned teaming demonstration near Bucharest on May 12. Hanwha said the exercise involved its TIGON armoured vehicle, the GRUNT unmanned platform and Milrem’s THeMIS Cargo system in scenarios covering reconnaissance, logistics support, casualty evacuation and drone-assisted battlefield monitoring under simulated electronic warfare conditions.
Lino Lim said the aim was to offer Romania a scalable system built around local participation. Kuldar Väärsi said Milrem’s production experience and technology-transfer record created room for manufacturing capacity to be expanded into Romania alongside Hanwha.
The move reflects a broader European trend. As NATO states raise defence spending and look for more resilient supply chains, unmanned ground vehicles are moving from niche capability to serious contender for roles ranging from force protection to high-risk logistics.
Source: Noah Wire Services
