Cheonkwang and 30kW laser cannon showcased at Army exercise

The Cheonkwang laser air-defense weapon Block-I performs a drone interception demonstration at the Army Tiger Plus Future Warfare Integrated Combat Training, held Wednesday at Army headquarters. [Hanwha Aerospace]
The Cheonkwang laser air-defense weapon Block-I performs a drone interception demonstration at the Army Tiger Plus Future Warfare Integrated Combat Training, held Wednesday at Army headquarters. [Hanwha Aerospace]

Hanwha Systems said Thursday it successfully completed a drone interception demonstration using the Cheonkwang laser air-defense weapon Block-I and a combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon at the Army Tiger Plus Future Warfare Integrated Combat Training, hosted by South Korea's Army headquarters on Wednesday.

The event drew about 500 attendees, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha and other senior military officials, as well as experts from industry and academia.

The Cheonkwang and the 30-kilowatt (kW) combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon intercepted all three drones deployed during the demonstration, achieving a 100 percent strike rate before a panel of observers.

The Cheonkwang, developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with Hanwha Systems serving as the prototype manufacturer, is the world's first operationally deployed laser weapon.

Each shot costs roughly 2,000 won (about $1.50), making it highly cost-effective. The system can operate continuously for 24 hours on electricity alone, with no need for ammunition resupply.

The Cheonkwang's combat demonstration is a landmark achievement combining the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's push for rapid acquisition and fielding of advanced weapons with the technological capabilities of the defense industry.

The result reflects the distinctive expertise of ADD and Hanwha Systems working in tandem under the advanced weapons acquisition roadmap led by the Ministry of National Defense and DAPA.

The combat vehicle-mounted high-energy laser cannon demonstrated alongside the Cheonkwang is a 30kW mobile laser weapon system developed by Hanwha Systems under the program management of the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology (KRIT).

Key components were miniaturized and lightened to allow easy installation on combat vehicles. A phase-change-based cooling technology manages heat generated during high-power operation, significantly improving mobility and operational stability.

Meanwhile, the Cheonkwang previously intercepted four drones and two unmanned aerial vehicles in succession with a 100 percent success rate at the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition, held at the Army's Seungjin training range in September.

"Laser weapons are a core game-changer that will reshape the future of air defense," said Shin Ju-hun, head of Hanwha Systems' laser business center. "We will aggressively target the global market, leading with the Cheonkwang and the 50kW laser armored vehicle."


keg@heraldcorp.com