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American defence prime Northrop Grumman and South Korean prime Hanwha Aerospace have signed a memorandum of agreement to begin the initial phase of collaboration for the development of a first stage solid rocket booster for Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Reactive Strike capability.
AReS is envisioned as a deployable, surface launched, extended-range weapon system that provides stand-off strike capability in high contested and denied environments.
“In today’s environment of rapidly evolving air and sea threats, advancing weapon systems that ensure dominance for the U.S. and its allies is critical,” according to Northrop Grumman international business development vice president Frank Morley.
“This MOA with Hanwha reinforces Northrop Grumman’s commitment to collaborating with the Korean industrial base to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions that outpace emerging threats."
Both companies signed the agreement during Sea-Air-Space Expo 2026 to co-develop the innovative, cost-effective solid rocket motor at the scale and speed for US warfighters and to deter modern threats.
“As the battlefield evolves and our adversaries develop advanced capabilities, a strong industrial base is critical to helping the US and its allies deter modern threats,” according to Hanwha Defense USA chief executive officer Michael Coulter.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration on AReS in partnership with Northrop Grumman, and leveraging Hanwha’s global industrial scale and advanced manufacturing in this critical effort.”
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