Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection
South Korea's DAPA selected Hanwha Aerospace's Arion-SMET UGV over Hyundai Rotem's HR-Sherpa for mass production, an initial ~$33.5M phase entering service 2027-2028.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) selected Hanwha Aerospace's Arion-SMET, a 6x6 all-electric unmanned ground vehicle, over Hyundai Rotem's competing HR-Sherpa on July 16, 2026, for the Republic of Korea Army's first Multipurpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (MUGV) program, part of the Army's 'Tiger 4.0' modernization drive. The initial phase is valued at KRW 49.6 billion (approximately $33.5 million), covering several dozen vehicles, with contract signature expected in Q3 2026 and service entry between 2027 and 2028; reporting also cites a long-term multi-acquisition-block projection of up to KRW 500 billion. The Arion-SMET has a 450kg payload capacity, 100km range per charge, 43km/h road speed (22km/h off-road), and over 98% domestic South Korean content, including its remote weapon station. It supports logistics resupply, ISR, EOD, mine-clearance, and casualty-evacuation roles via direct remote control, GPS waypoint navigation, autonomous off-road movement, and soldier/vehicle-following modes. The program responds to South Korea's shrinking conscription pool: the pool of young men fit for active-duty service fell 29% over the past decade, with the standing military projected to shrink from 560,000 (2019) to roughly 450,000 by 2025 and the conscript pool potentially reaching just 100,000 by 2038. GlobalData projects South Korea will spend approximately $140M on UGV procurement through 2036, with Arion-SMET accounting for roughly a quarter of that total. The Arion-SMET is also the first South Korean UGV to complete U.S. Department of War Foreign Comparative Testing, evaluated by the U.S. Marine Corps and Army in Hawaii.
Award detail
- Agency
- Republic of Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)
- Award ID
- Ceiling value
- Initial phase KRW 49.6B (~$33.5M); reported long-term multi-block potential up to KRW 500B
- Vehicle
- Mass-production selection, Army 'Tiger 4.0' MUGV program
- Awarded
- 2026-07-16
- Period of performance ends
Programs0
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Frequently asked
- What is the Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection contract?
- South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) selected Hanwha Aerospace's Arion-SMET, a 6x6 all-electric unmanned ground vehicle, over Hyundai Rotem's competing HR-Sherpa on July 16, 2026, for the Republic of Korea Army's first Multipurpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (MUGV) program, part of the Army's 'Tiger 4.0' modernization drive. The initial phase is valued at KRW 49.6 billion (approximately $33.5 million), covering several dozen vehicles, with contract signature expected in Q3 2026 and service entry between 2027 and 2028; reporting also cites a long-term multi-acquisition-block projection of up to KRW 500 billion. The Arion-SMET has a 450kg payload capacity, 100km range per charge, 43km/h road speed (22km/h off-road), and over 98% domestic South Korean content, including its remote weapon station. It supports logistics resupply, ISR, EOD, mine-clearance, and casualty-evacuation roles via direct remote control, GPS waypoint navigation, autonomous off-road movement, and soldier/vehicle-following modes. The program responds to South Korea's shrinking conscription pool: the pool of young men fit for active-duty service fell 29% over the past decade, with the standing military projected to shrink from 560,000 (2019) to roughly 450,000 by 2025 and the conscript pool potentially reaching just 100,000 by 2038. GlobalData projects South Korea will spend approximately $140M on UGV procurement through 2036, with Arion-SMET accounting for roughly a quarter of that total. The Arion-SMET is also the first South Korean UGV to complete U.S. Department of War Foreign Comparative Testing, evaluated by the U.S. Marine Corps and Army in Hawaii.
- Which agency awarded the Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection contract?
- The Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection contract was awarded by Republic of Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) under a Mass-production selection, Army 'Tiger 4.0' MUGV program vehicle.
- How much is the Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection contract worth?
- The Arion-SMET MUGV — DAPA Mass Production Selection contract has a value of Initial phase KRW 49.6B (~$33.5M); reported long-term multi-block potential up to KRW 500B, awarded on 2026-07-16.
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