Hanwha Systems, Northrop Grumman partner to advance air-defence capabilities

The interior of the Northrop Grumman IBCS Engagement Operations Center (EOC). Northrop Grumman and Hanwha Systems will apply IBCS technologies to advance C2 technologies for IAMD, under an MOU announced on 23 June. (Northrop Grumman)

Hanwha Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Northrop Grumman to advance integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) capabilities.

Under the agreement, the two companies will co-operate to enhance core technologies associated with command-and-control (C2) of IAMD, and explore new business opportunities in South Korea, Hanwha Systems announced on 23 June.

The partnership will apply Northrop Grumman's experience in developing the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), which is a C2 system that integrates different sensors and interceptors across the land, air, and maritime domains, Hanwha Systems said.

According to Janes C4ISR & Mission Systems: Land, IBCS enables forces to use composite track data from multiple sensors to gain a single, integrated air picture; engage and kill incoming threats; select the best available weapon for deployment against the threat; and create task forces and teams that are adaptable to rapidly changing situations and environments. IBCS is operated by the Polish and the US armies.

Hanwha Systems added that the partnership will also apply Hanwha Systems' C2 technologies developed to build the Korea Air and Missile Defense Operations Center (KAMDOC), the Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC), and the Air Defense Command Control & Alert (ADC2A) system, which are part of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces' IAMD architecture.