Hanwha Systems launches 30-ton unmanned surface vessel, begins sea trials off Busan

Hanwha Systems announced Thursday that it successfully launched a self-funded, in-house developed 30-ton unmanned surface vessel near Gadeok Bridge in Busan in early June.

The 30-ton vessel has begun full-scale maritime trials, operating between Busan and Jangmok Port in Geoje.

Hanwha Systems is pursuing development of both the 30-ton vessel and a 140-ton combat-capable unmanned surface vessel (USV) through a self-funded investment of about 70 billion won ($45.9 million), in line with the Navy's push to transition toward a combined manned-unmanned maritime combat system. The newly launched 30-ton vessel will serve as a key testbed for verifying advanced AI-based autonomous navigation technology through the end of next year.

Hanwha Systems has completed domestic-standard autonomous navigation trials based on technology developed for its Haeryeong reconnaissance USV. Building on that foundation, the company is now moving to verify compatibility with global standards by meeting the requirements of the Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA), the US Navy's standard infrastructure for unmanned systems. The company also plans to integrate AI technology to develop next-generation autonomous navigation capabilities that independently handle obstacle and target detection, friend-or-foe identification, and tracking.

Verification efforts will focus particularly on high-difficulty scenarios designed to maximize effectiveness in real-world mission environments — including autonomous navigation through narrow waterways where U-turns are difficult and vessels are densely concentrated, and long-range autonomous operations spanning hundreds of kilometers.

The center of gravity on the modern battlefield has been shifting from manned strategic assets to unmanned systems. Hanwha Systems plans to accelerate its push to capture the global standards market in response to this trend. Yu Mun-gi, head of Hanwha Systems' maritime business division, said the company would "expand the territory of South Korea's maritime defense technology across the world through Hanwha Systems' unmanned surface vessels, which fully internalize global standards, advanced AI autonomous navigation technology, and command-and-control capabilities."