Overview
- Hanwha Systems reported that its Cheongwang fixed laser and a 30 kW vehicle-mounted laser destroyed all three target drones during the Republic of Korea Army TIGER+ exercise on October 14.
- The company bills Cheongwang as operational since December 2024 and says each engagement costs roughly 2,000 KRW (about $1.50), because the system uses electrical power rather than expendable interceptors.
- A 50 kW Laser Armored Vehicle was shown at recent exhibitions and is being marketed for export, with Hanwha targeting serial production by the end of 2027 but with no confirmed orders or production contracts announced.
- Experts and reporting note clear operational limits: heavy rain, fog or moisture can reduce beam energy and the system needs sustained power, cooling and precise tracking to hold the laser on moving targets.
- The demonstrations underline a broader industry shift toward directed-energy air defence and could change how militaries balance spending on missiles versus power and cooling infrastructure for lasers.