South Korea has contracted Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to develop the Combat USV, an unmanned surface vessel designed for reconnaissance and close-combat missions in forward areas, replacing manned ships. In the future, this system is expected to become part of the Navy Sea GHOST concept, which the South Korean Navy is actively promoting, Defense Express reports.
In the near term, South Korea plans to establish a dedicated squadron to advance the development of maritime unmanned systems. Over the medium term, this effort will expand into full squadrons of aerial and surface drones. By the 2040s, the country aims to establish a Naval Unmanned Forces Command comprising several squadrons, including underwater drones as well.
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Notably, the announcement comes shortly after South Korea decided to cancel its CVX aircraft carrier program, instead redirecting resources toward developing a multirole unmanned command ship. The drone flagship will serve as the central node of its future unmanned naval force.
A scale model of the proposed command ship was showcased at MADEX 2023 by Hanwha Ocean. This vessel, with an estimated displacement of 16,000 tons, will be capable of deploying a full array of unmanned underwater, surface, and aerial vehicles.
For comparison, the famous historical HMS Dreadnought, which gave the name to its class, had a displacement of 18,120 tons.
Regarding the Combat USV itself, HHI announced that the conceptual development phase (estimating performance specifications, technological frameworks, and equipment procurement strategies, etc.) is scheduled to be completed within eight months.
The South Korean Navy previously showcased a model of the Combat USV at the Drone Show Korea 2025. In photos by Naval News, it was presented in several variants, each equipped with different armament configurations, including a 20mm automatic cannon, 70mm Poniard guided missile launchers, 130mm guided missile launchers, C-Star anti-ship missiles, and launchers for kamikaze drones.
The Combat USV is estimated to displace over 100 tons, measuring 30 meters in length and 6 meters in width. It features an integrated suite of radar, infrared sensors, electro-optical targeting systems, LIDAR, and 360-degree cameras, with communications managed via a satellite link.
Read more: UK Laid the Keel of Its Largest Submarine-to-Be, the HMS Dreadnought
