'No problem even in rough seas': LIG D&A holds first unmanned surface vessel demonstration

Rain fell without letup May 27 over the waters off Yeongdo, Busan. Despite choppy seas and poor weather, several unmanned surface vessels moved quietly across the waves.

LIG Defense & Aerospace's AI-based unmanned surface vessel intelligent command-and-control demonstration, held in waters near Korea Maritime and Ocean University, offered a relatively clear glimpse of the future battlefield — even through the foul weather.

The centerpiece of the demonstration was not simply the operation of unmanned vessels. The goal was to link different types of unmanned systems into a single network, move them as a coordinated swarm, and have AI make real-time decisions and issue commands — all within an environment that blended actual hardware with virtual simulation.

Deployed at sea were LIG D&A's unmanned surface vessels Haegum 3 and Haegum 5, along with the small unmanned vessel Haegum S, publicly unveiled for the first time. At the same time, a virtual simulator ran in the background. Enemy surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, sonobuoys and suicide drones were rendered in digital space to replicate real battlefield threats, and the physical systems were linked to the simulation in real time via satellite communications — what LIG D&A calls a "hybrid battlefield."

Haegum 3 is the first vessel in South Korea to complete a real-sea seakeeping performance test at Sea State 4, with wave heights of up to 2.5 meters, enabling 24-hour crewless operation even in harsh maritime conditions. On that day, Haegum 3 completed all assigned missions without being affected by the adverse weather.

In the anti-surface warfare scenario, an enemy surface vessel crossing the Northern Limit Line was detected and the situation escalated rapidly. A seamless sequence unfolded — from mission planning and warning shots to disabling fire and, finally, a ramming attack by the small unmanned vessel Haegum S. Human decision-making was reduced to a minimum as AI-generated tactical options were applied immediately.

The subsequent anti-submarine warfare demonstration presented an even more complex scenario. When an enemy submarine incursion was simulated, sonobuoys were deployed and a towed array sonar system began operation. Throughout the entire sequence — search, tracking and attack — the AI-based command-and-control system fused data in real time and recommended optimal responses. The exercise concluded with the simulated launch of a Blue Shark torpedo and confirmation of a mock sinking.

The most striking change across all of these scenarios was speed. A company official said the time from detection to decision to engagement had been cut to one-tenth of conventional levels. Integrating the battlefield picture onto a single operational display and having AI provide immediate decision support made the improvement possible.

Another defining characteristic observed at the scene was continuity. The system was designed for 24-hour consecutive operation. The ability to maintain uninterrupted surveillance and response without gaps caused by crew rotations marks a clear departure from conventional manned operations.

The technical foundation of the demonstration rests on a collaboration with Palantir, the global AI company. The decision-support AI was designed with export demand in mind and focused on improving adaptability to evolving battlefield conditions.

LIG D&A's "Open Platform, Closed Core" strategy also drew attention. The approach maintains an open architecture that connects flexibly with a wide range of weapons systems while keeping core data and AI tightly controlled. The strategy balances defense data sovereignty with interoperability with allied forces.

Navy and defense industry officials present at the demonstration focused on two keywords: "integration" and "speed." The prevailing assessment was that the ability to link individual unmanned platforms into a single network and operate them in real time — rather than the performance of any one platform — will determine competitiveness on the future battlefield.

The rainy demonstration offered a clear direction for the future of unmanned surface vessels: AI, once a tool to assist human judgment, is becoming the central factor governing battlefield speed, and unmanned systems are evolving from individual pieces of equipment into connected combat power.

Building on the results, LIG D&A plans to expand the range of platform integration and move into full-scale verification and productization for operational deployment.

"What matters more than the unmanned platform itself is the ability to integrate it and exercise command and control through AI," said Lee Seung-young, chief technology officer of LIG D&A. "This demonstration was the first step in turning that potential into reality."