Hyundai Rotem to Participate in Saudi International Defense Exhibition

The Largest Defense Exhibition in the Middle East
Showcasing Ground Weapon Systems and Future Battlefield Response Technologies

Hyundai Rotem announced on the 9th that it will participate in the Saudi Arabia International Defense Exhibition 2026 to target the Middle Eastern market.

This exhibition, the largest defense industry exhibition in the Middle East, is a core event of the Saudi government's defense industry localization strategy, Vision 2030. This year marks its third edition.

View of the Hyundai Rotem booth at the Saudi International Defense Exhibition 2026. Hyundai Rotem

At this exhibition, Hyundai Rotem plans to focus on laying the groundwork for entering the Middle Eastern market by showcasing ground weapon systems and future battlefield response technologies. In particular, it will present core defense technologies such as maneuvering weapon systems, manned-unmanned teaming systems, and hydrogen mobility.

In the exhibition hall, Hyundai Rotem will display mock-ups of various K2 tank-based variants, including the K2 main battle tank, which has received excellent evaluations in the global market, as well as obstacle-clearing tanks and armored recovery vehicles. It will also exhibit mock-ups of a 30-ton class wheeled armored vehicle developed for export, along with command post vehicles and medical evacuation vehicles that utilize the existing wheeled armored vehicle platform.

Hyundai Rotem will unveil for the first time the HR-Sherpa, a multi-purpose unmanned vehicle equipped with a drone defense system, at this exhibition. In this defense system, radar detects drones, establishes a defense posture, and performs surveillance and monitoring missions. The HR-Sherpa is an unmanned platform capable of mounting various equipment depending on the mission, and all six wheels are equipped with in-wheel motors. In this structure, each wheel has its own drive unit, which not only increases the vehicle's propulsion power but also allows the vehicle to continue operating through the remaining wheels even if an individual wheel becomes faulty.

Alongside this, a full-scale mock-up of the HR-Sherpa and a one-third scale mock-up equipped with a reconnaissance drone, a surface-to-air missile system, and a surface-to-surface missile system are on display, offering new response options for modern and future warfare.

Hyundai Rotem will also unveil to the overseas market for the first time Black Veil, a hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned mobility electrification platform that was first introduced at last year's Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition.

A Hyundai Rotem official said, "We plan to showcase the diverse operational capabilities of future high-tech ground weapon systems based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned systems, and hydrogen, in line with the rapidly changing future battlefield environment."