From tanks to drones: South Korea’s defense firms face a new battlefield test

South Korean defense stocks rode a wave of global rearmament over the past two years.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine accelerated military spending across Europe. South Korean companies drew buyers with weapons that were competitively priced and could be delivered relatively quickly, including tanks, artillery and missile systems.

But that rally has given way to a sharp sell-off, with shares of several major South Korean defense companies plunging this year.

The combined market value of the top four Korean defense companies — Hanwha Aerospace, LIG D&A, Hyundai Rotem, and Korea Aerospace — had plunged to about 62 trillion won ($46.18 billion) as of end-October from their 52-week peak of 170 trillion won, according to South Korean broadcaster SBS.

Are South Korean companies, known for exporting tanks and artillery systems, well-placed for a modern battlefield that has seen drones and counter-drone systems proliferate in Ukraine and Iran?

The war in Ukraine has shown how relatively inexpensive drones can threaten expensive military equipment, and drone strikes from Iran have depleted stocks of costly air defense missiles of the U.S. and its Gulf allies.

"Modern warfare is being fought with less traditional weaponry (tanks, cannons, armored vehicles, etc.), which Koreans are positioned for. Even on this front, drones, for example, are dominated by China, pricing out other potential competitors from Europe, the U.S., and Asia," said Peter Kim, senior managing director at KB Securities.

KJ Hwang, Korea autos & industrials analyst, at Bank of America agreed that procurement priorities were evolving, with more focus on drones, counter-drone systems and air defense.

The reversal in defense stocks is not all down to new warfighting platforms.

The declines come as investors weigh several concerns: disappointing earnings, a stronger won and delayed export orders.

Fund flows into the semiconductor sector and high valuations built on expectations of strong earnings growth have also weighed on Korean defense shares, said KB Securities' Kim, adding that governments have moved slower than expected to convert defense spending pledges into approved budgets and orders.

Financial results have amplified those concerns. Hanwha Aerospace’s third-quarter operating profit fell over 46% from a year earlier, with the company citing delivery-schedule adjustments and one-off costs. Its shares are down more than 28% so far this year.