Gaon Cable, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, has entered Canada's public power grid market for the first time.

Gaon Cable said Sept. 9 it recently supplied medium-voltage (MV) cables to a major public utility in western Canada. It marks the company's first export of power cables to Canada.

Gaon Cable plans to use its entry into Canada as a springboard to expand orders in the North American public power grid market. Canada is expanding and modernizing its transmission and distribution networks to meet rising electricity demand driven by the growth of AI data centers and advanced manufacturing.

The company also expects its North American sales to increase. Gaon Cable is expanding local supply through its headquarters and U.S. manufacturing subsidiary LSCUS in North Carolina.

Gaon Cable expects North American sales to rise more than 50% to about $470 million this year from about $300 million last year.

"We will continue to strengthen our presence in the North American power infrastructure market spanning the U.S. and Canada," Gaon Cable CEO Chung Hyun said.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is showcasing the KF-21 and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) systems in Poland as it seeks to expand its presence in the European market.

KAI said Sept. 9 it is participating in the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2026), being held in Kielce, Poland, from Sept. 8 to 11.

KAI displayed its Next-generation Air Combat System (NACS), linking the KF-21, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles (AAPs) and low-Earth-orbit communications satellites. It is also showcasing a MUM-T system connecting the FA-50 with an AAP.

In the rotary-wing segment, KAI unveiled systems linking Air-Launched Effects (ALEs) with the Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH). KAI plans to offer the MAH, whose system development was completed in August 2026, to European countries seeking to replace their helicopter fleets.

KAI is seeking follow-on business opportunities for the FA-50 in Poland. It also plans to pursue new projects in European countries with fighter replacement demand, including Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia.

Hanwha Ocean has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Royal Thai Navy's next-generation frigate project worth about 680 billion won.

Hanwha Ocean said Sept. 9 that it was named the preferred bidder for the Royal Thai Navy's next-generation frigate acquisition program and will begin detailed negotiations toward a final contract.

The Royal Thai Navy has set a budget of 16.73 billion baht, or about 683.3 billion won, for the construction of one frigate and integrated logistics support.

Hanwha Ocean will negotiate technical specifications, project scope and contract terms with the Royal Thai Navy. The final project value and contract terms will be determined based on the outcome of the negotiations.

Defense companies from Spain, Singapore and Türkiye competed for the project alongside Hanwha Ocean. The South Korean shipbuilder previously delivered the frigate "Bhumibol Adulyadej" to the Royal Thai Navy in 2018.

Hanwha Ocean plans to expand follow-on naval defense cooperation with Thailand and pursue additional opportunities in Southeast Asia's surface combatant market.

HD Hyundai is expanding cooperation with the Philippine government on naval modernization and the development of the country’s shipbuilding industry.

HD Hyundai said Sept. 8 that Chairman Chung Ki-sun met Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Seoul on Sept. 7 to discuss cooperation in shipbuilding and defense.

HD Hyundai has expanded its naval vessel business in the Philippines since winning a contract for the Philippine Navy’s first frigates in 2016. The company has secured orders for 12 naval vessels in the country and delivered six of them.

The two sides will continue cooperation on naval modernization, including follow-on frigate programs. They will also expand cooperation in the local shipbuilding industry.

HD Hyundai began operations at HD Hyundai Philippines in Subic last year. It recently launched the first vessel built locally and plans to deliver it to the shipowner next year.

“Based on the mutual trust we have built over the past 10 years, we will explore opportunities for long-term industrial cooperation in a wide range of areas beyond commercial and naval shipbuilding,” Chung said.

DN Solutions received a Prime Minister's Commendation for its development and localization of machine tools used in advanced industries including semiconductors and aerospace.

DN Solutions said Sept. 8 that Vice President Song Ji-ho received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the 2026 Technology Developers' Day ceremony held on Sept. 7.

Song has worked on machine tool development for 25 years, leading the localization of turning centers and multitasking machines. Key products include the PUMA GT3100 series of global-standard turning centers, the SMX series of multitasking machines and the DNC series of grinding machines for semiconductor materials.

The DNC series can process a range of materials, including quartz, silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and ceramics, on a single machine.

DN Solutions applied its proprietary precision grinding technology to achieve nanometer-level machining accuracy. The equipment can be used to process consumable components for semiconductor manufacturing as well as aerospace parts.

Song also led the digitalization and standardization of processes for managing customer-specific machine tool options and the development of an in-house enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The system provides integrated management of operations ranging from sales to production and shipment histories, as well as product specifications.

Park Woo-jin, head of Global Product Development at LS ELECTRIC, received the Science and Technology Medal for his contributions to localizing core distribution equipment technologies and developing direct-current (DC) power equipment.

LS ELECTRIC said Sept. 8 that Park received the award at the Technology Developers’ Day ceremony held in Seoul on Sept. 7.

Park developed core technologies for low- and high-voltage distribution equipment, including air circuit breakers (ACBs), vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) and ring main units (RMUs). He also contributed to securing proprietary design technologies for distribution equipment that had previously relied heavily on imports.

In DC power equipment, Park led the development of South Korea’s first 1,000-volt DC ACB, followed by the world’s first 1,500V-class DC ACB and disconnect switch unit (DSU). The products can be used in high-power infrastructure such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

LS ELECTRIC’s ACB and VCB product lines, including DC products, generated cumulative revenue of more than 1 trillion won from 2021 through 2025. The company supplies the products to overseas markets including the US and Europe.

Hyundai Rotem will showcase its Poland-specific K2 tank, or K2PL, equipped with mission equipment developed with Polish defense companies.

Hyundai Rotem said Sept. 8 that it will participate in the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO), held in Kielce, Poland, from Sept. 8 to 11. Its exhibit will feature the K2PL as well as armored vehicle-launched bridge, combat engineering and recovery variants.

The K2PL is expected to feature an active protection system (APS) to counter anti-tank guided missiles and drone threats, a drone jammer and a remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS).

Hyundai Rotem will also unveil for the first time a Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) for tanks made by Polish defense company Miranda. At the exhibition, the camouflage system will be fitted to a K2 tank currently being supplied to Poland.

The company will also unveil for the first time a Poland-specific armored vehicle-launched bridge being jointly developed with Polish defense company OBRUM. The vehicle will be equipped with bridge mission equipment developed for Poland's battlefield environment.

Hyundai Rotem will also display a model of its HR-Sherpa multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle fitted with an RCWS from Poland's ZMT, as well as a 30-ton wheeled armored vehicle equipped with an unmanned turret for a multilayer counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS).

Hyundai Rotem is preparing for local production under its second K2 tank executive contract with Poland's Armament Agency. In April, it signed an agreement with Bumar-Łabędy, a unit of Polish state-owned defense group PGZ, to cooperate on local production and maintenance of the K2PL and armored recovery vehicles.

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) discussed cooperation in air defense systems with the Czech government.

LIG D&A said Sept. 8 that Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Jaromír Zůna visited its Pangyo House in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 7. Zůna was in South Korea to attend the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD).

LIG D&A introduced Zůna to air defense solutions including the L-SAM long-range surface-to-air missile system and counter-drone systems. The company also presented its system integration technologies for building a multilayer air defense network capable of responding to threats from low to high altitudes.

The Czech Republic is pursuing the modernization of its air defense systems as part of efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities. The two sides discussed technological cooperation related to the modernization program as well as potential future cooperation in the defense industry.

LIG D&A plans to expand its air defense business in European markets, including the Czech Republic, while pursuing cooperation with local companies in areas such as technology collaboration and joint development.

HD Hyundai Oilbank said on Aug. 11 it has commercialized South Korea's first engine oil specifically designed for hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE).

The company said it has begun supplying its XTeer H2-ICE engine oil to hydrogen commercial vehicle manufacturers, including Tata Daewoo Mobility.

HD Hyundai Oilbank began developing lubricant technology for hydrogen internal combustion engines in 2023 and completed product development and performance validation last year.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines operate at higher combustion temperatures than conventional internal combustion engines and generate moisture during combustion, which can accelerate engine wear and degrade lubricant performance.

According to the company, the new engine oil incorporates technologies designed to protect engine components, control moisture and suppress deposits generated during the combustion process.

An HD Hyundai Oilbank official said the company has secured proprietary lubricant technology for hydrogen internal combustion engines and successfully commercialized the product.

The official added that the company plans to expand its portfolio of high-value-added lubricant products targeting the global market.

SFA has begun shipping manufacturing equipment for LS Cable & System's subsea cable plant in the United States.

The company said on Aug. 11 it held a shipment ceremony for the first 10,000-metric-ton-class turntable destined for LS Cable & System's manufacturing facility in Virginia. Between the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year, SFA secured turntable supply contracts worth approximately 150 billion won.

SFA will deliver dozens of turntables to the Virginia plant in phases through the end of 2027.

Turntables are used to wind, store and transport completed subsea cables to the next stage of the manufacturing process. Because long-distance subsea cables are highly susceptible to excessive tension and twisting, the equipment must precisely control cable handling. The turntables supplied by SFA measure more than 40 meters in diameter.

Working with LS Cable & System, SFA has developed subsea cable manufacturing equipment, including vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) systems and turntables. The company has also supplied similar equipment to LS Cable & System's subsea cable plant in Donghae, Gangwon Province.

An SFA official said the company intends to successfully complete the Virginia project by leveraging its experience supplying 3,000-ton-class VCV systems and 10,000-ton-class turntables, while positioning itself to secure additional business opportunities as LS Cable & System expands its US investment.

Hanwha Solutions said on Aug. 11 it has commercialized a power cable material containing 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic feedstock.

The company said it has completed customer qualification for CHBA-8241RC, a high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based jacket material for power cables made with recycled plastic feedstock.

CHBA-8241RC is a proprietary composite material developed by Hanwha Solutions. According to the company, it maintains electrical performance comparable to conventional products while reducing carbon emissions by approximately 34% per kilogram of material.

Hanwha Solutions completed product development and pilot production last year. In the first half of this year, it finished production trials and quality validation with cable manufacturers. The company said the commercialization expands its cable materials portfolio from ultra-high-voltage insulation materials to environmentally friendly cable jacket compounds.

Hanwha Solutions is also expanding its recycled polyethylene (rPE) business using waste plastics. Its related products have obtained Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and ISCC PLUS certifications and are used in applications including consumer electronics packaging, cosmetic containers and industrial recycled packaging bags.

Hanwha Group has increased its stake in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to more than 15%, broadening its base for participation in the key decision-making of the country's sole aircraft manufacturer.

Hanwha Systems disclosed on Aug. 10 that it had acquired an additional 3.45% stake in KAI through open-market purchases over the past month.

Following the purchases, Hanwha Group's combined ownership in KAI has risen to 15.89%, consisting of a 9.90% stake held by Hanwha Aerospace, a 4.98% stake held by Hanwha Systems and a 1.01% stake held by Hanwha Aerospace USA.

Hanwha is now KAI's second-largest shareholder. With its ownership exceeding 15%, the group plans to file for a business combination review with South Korea's Fair Trade Commission. KAI's largest shareholder remains the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which owns 26.41% of the company.

Hanwha and KAI have already been expanding cooperation in the aerospace sector. In February, the two companies agreed to pursue joint development of an aircraft engine for a future version of the KF-21 fighter jet, collaborate on unmanned aircraft development and exports, and jointly enter commercial space markets involving satellites and launch vehicles.

Hanwha Aerospace is active in aircraft engines and space launch vehicles, while Hanwha Systems operates radar and satellite businesses. KAI is South Korea's only fully integrated aircraft manufacturer and possesses system integration capabilities across fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Industry observers say closer cooperation between the companies could create synergies spanning aircraft platforms, engines, radar systems, weapons integration and space-related businesses.

The increased stake also comes as Hanwha pursues a large-scale investment strategy focused on aerospace, space and artificial intelligence. The group recently announced plans to invest a total of 55 trillion won in aerospace and AI businesses between this year and 2040.

Hanwha Aerospace plans to invest 23 trillion won in launch vehicle programs, including assembly facilities and development test infrastructure. The company also plans to invest 2 trillion won in defense AI, developing crewed-uncrewed weapons for air and ground use and crewed-uncrewed integrated combat systems.

Hanwha Systems plans to invest 20 trillion won in satellite-related businesses, including very low Earth orbit synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, space-based AI data centers and low Earth orbit satellite communications networks.

The cities of Sacheon, where KAI is headquartered, and Changwon, home to major Hanwha Aerospace operations, are expected to play increasingly important roles in Hanwha's aerospace strategy. The group is also envisioning a southern aerospace corridor linking Changwon, Sacheon and the Naro Space Center in Goheung.

LS Electric and GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) have agreed to collaborate on direct current (DC) power distribution technology and power equipment supply for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

LS Electric said on Aug. 10 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GS E&C to jointly respond to changes in the AI data center business environment. Under the agreement, the companies will develop next-generation DC power distribution technologies aimed at improving power efficiency in high-power, high-density AI data centers.

As part of the partnership, LS Electric will supply key electrical equipment for AI data center projects being developed by GS E&C, including switchboards, gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and extra-high-voltage transformers.

LS Electric is currently developing DC power distribution products such as solid-state transformers (SSTs), solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) and energy storage systems (ESS). The company has also established a production facility at its Cheonan site in South Chungcheong Province that operates entirely on a DC power distribution system.

An LS Electric official said demand for DC power distribution technologies is increasing as operators seek to improve the power efficiency of AI data centers.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured a 956 billion-won contract to supply power generation equipment for data centers operated by major U.S. technology companies.

The company said on Aug. 10 that it signed an agreement with U.S. energy infrastructure developer Corban Energy Group to supply power generation systems based on its HiMSEN engines. The contract covers a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW), or 1 gigawatt (GW), which will be used as a power source for data centers operated by major technology companies in the United States.

Corban Energy Group is an energy infrastructure and engineering company that supplies gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and power products for infrastructure projects, including data centers and projects for the U.S. Department of War (DoW), according to the company.

The HiMSEN engine supplied by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a 9.6 MW-class high-capacity medium-speed engine. Its ability to operate continuously around the clock makes it suitable for power generation systems serving data centers that require stable and uninterrupted electricity supplies.

In April, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a 627.1 billion-won contract with U.S. energy infrastructure developer AEG to supply power generation equipment for data centers. With the Corban Energy Group agreement, the company has now secured another major contract in the fast-growing U.S. data center power market.

"We continue to receive inquiries regarding collaboration opportunities in the data center power generation engine market," an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said.

POSCO Air Solution, the industrial gas subsidiary of the POSCO Group, has obtained an international quality certification for the production of high-purity rare gases used in aerospace and defense applications.

The company announced on Aug. 6 that it received AS9100D certification, the globally recognized aerospace and defense quality management system standard, from LRQA.

AS9100D is an international standard based on ISO 9001 that incorporates additional quality requirements for the aerospace and defense industries. POSCO Air Solution said it is the first company in Asia to obtain the certification in the field of high-purity rare gas manufacturing.

In June, the company completed construction of a high-purity rare gas production facility at the Donghoan industrial site within POSCO’s Gwangyang Steelworks complex. The plant has an annual production capacity of 130,000 normal cubic meters (N㎥).

POSCO Air Solution recently participated in propulsion technology development testing conducted by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, where the performance of domestically produced xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) gases was successfully verified for electric propulsion applications.

“The certification will serve as an opportunity to expand our supply of rare gases for aerospace and defense applications,” Chief Executive Officer Kim Dae-yeon said.

Gaon Cable, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, will participate in a Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) power infrastructure project for the first time.

The company said on Aug. 6 that it will supply approximately 60 billion won worth of distribution cables for an MRT power grid construction project commissioned by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). The contract marks Gaon Cable’s first order since it was registered as an approved LTA vendor last year.

Singapore plans to expand its MRT network from approximately 240 kilometers today to more than 360 kilometers by the early 2030s. With new rail lines under construction and power infrastructure upgrades planned for existing routes, demand for distribution cables is expected to remain strong.

“We will continue increasing the share of overseas revenue by focusing on strategic markets such as the United States and Singapore, while improving both profitability and growth,” Chief Executive Officer Chung Hyun said.

LS Electric has begun mass production of its next-generation power conversion system (PCS) for energy storage systems (ESS).

The company said on Aug. 6 that it held a first-shipment ceremony for its next-generation ESS PCS, known as G2, at its DC Factory in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 5, marking the start of full-scale production.

The event was attended by Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and company employees. Koo toured the dedicated G2 production line and reviewed manufacturing plans and quality management operations.

G2 is a next-generation PCS developed for the global ESS market. The system incorporates liquid-cooling technology, improving thermal management performance and durability compared with conventional air-cooled designs. It also features a space-saving architecture designed to enhance installation efficiency.

The product will be manufactured at LS Electric’s Cheonan DC Factory, a facility operated entirely on direct current (DC) power distribution. The factory employs DC-based equipment, including solid-state transformers (SSTs), solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) and ESS infrastructure, improving overall energy efficiency by more than 10%, according to the company.

“Following the launch of mass production for our next-generation ESS PCS, we plan to further expand our presence in overseas markets,” an LS Electric official said. “We will secure global customers based on our competitiveness in DC technologies and product quality.”

HD Hyundai said on Aug. 5 that it has launched a pilot project aimed at improving productivity at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi.

The initiative is a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on advanced shipbuilding technologies signed with Huntington Ingalls during the Sea-Air-Space (SAS) 2025 exhibition in the United States last year.

As the first phase of the pilot program, HD Hyundai will introduce its proprietary intelligent welding system at the Ingalls shipyard. The technology has already been deployed at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho.

The intelligent welding system automatically recognizes workpieces and welding conditions, enabling real-time adjustment of welding positions. A single operator can manage multiple welding robots simultaneously, while production data is collected and stored in real time for quality control and process optimization.

The two companies plan to expand cooperation across a broader range of shipbuilding activities, including production automation, development of digital shipyards using robotics and artificial intelligence, improvements in naval ship construction productivity, workforce training, and supply chain development for shipbuilding equipment and materials.

Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said the pilot project is expected to serve as a foundation for deeper collaboration between the two companies and help improve the efficiency of naval vessel construction.

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) said on Aug. 4 that it successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) in June for the electronic warfare system to be installed on the third Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine. CDR is a key milestone that verifies design maturity and development readiness before prototype manufacturing begins.

LIG D&A signed a research and development contract with Hanwha Ocean in April 2025 for the electronic warfare system of the third Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine. Since then, the program has progressed through the System Requirements Review (SRR), System Functional Review (SFR) and Preliminary Design Review (PDR), culminating in the successful completion of the CDR.

The Jangbogo-III Batch-II program is a national defense project aimed at building 3,000-ton-class submarines using domestic technology. Electronic warfare systems for submarines have historically relied heavily on foreign suppliers because of the high technological barriers involved.

Following the CDR completion, LIG D&A plans to proceed with the remaining development work and system qualification testing to ensure the program stays on schedule for military deployment. The company also intends to leverage the technologies developed through the project to create export-oriented variants.

HD Hyundai reported second-quarter operating profit exceeding 4 trillion won, supported by strong performance across its shipbuilding, construction equipment, refining and power equipment businesses.

The company said on July 31 that it posted consolidated revenue of 22.4094 trillion won and operating profit of 4.1246 trillion won for the second quarter of 2026. Revenue increased 30.2% from a year earlier, while operating profit surged 262.2%.

For the first half of the year, cumulative revenue reached 42.0113 trillion won and operating profit totaled 6.9594 trillion won.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the group’s shipbuilding and marine holding company, reported revenue of 8.9270 trillion won and operating profit of 1.6451 trillion won. The results were driven by higher productivity and increased sales of high-margin vessels. Revenue rose 20.2% year over year, while operating profit increased 72.5%.

HD Hyundai Marine Solution generated revenue of 580.4 billion won and operating profit of 97.6 billion won, benefiting from growth in its ship aftermarket (AM), eco-friendly retrofit and digital solutions businesses. Revenue and operating profit increased 24.1% and 17.6%, respectively, from a year earlier.

HD Hyundai Site Solutions, the group’s construction equipment unit, posted revenue of 2.5235 trillion won and operating profit of 272.0 billion won. Results were supported by improving global market conditions, stronger sales of next-generation excavators and increased demand for industrial and defense engines. Revenue rose 17.9% and operating profit climbed 79.6% from the same period last year.

HD Hyundai Oilbank recorded revenue of 9.4774 trillion won and operating profit of 1.8241 trillion won. Improved profitability in lubricant base oils and petrochemicals helped offset volatility in international crude oil prices.

HD Hyundai Electric reported revenue of 1.1418 trillion won and operating profit of 287.0 billion won. Growth was driven by higher sales in its power distribution business and improved profitability in overseas markets. Revenue increased 26.0% year over year, while operating profit rose 37.3%.

An HD Hyundai representative said earnings improved across the group’s major businesses, including shipbuilding, construction equipment, refining and power equipment.

The company said it plans to continue enhancing profitability through selective orders focused on high-value-added vessels, expansion into new markets and ongoing improvements in product mix.