Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS) has joined forces with experts from Big Tech companies including Microsoft and Google to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI)-based warship technology capabilities.
Hanwha Ocean held the "4th Next-Generation Smart Warship Technology Research Forum" at Hanwha Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, where participants shared views on smart warship technology and the future direction of maritime defense research and development. About 120 attendees took part, including Shim Seung-bae, chair of the Defense and Security Subcommittee under the Presidential National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee, along with representatives from the military, academia, and defense companies.
Each session introduced various approaches to innovating warship design, operation, and maintenance systems based on AI and data technology. Kim Han-gyeol, a Microsoft team leader and expert in AI and cloud transformation strategy, raised the question of "how to trust, control, and monetize" AI for innovation in smart warships and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). He emphasized how Microsoft is leading a productivity revolution through "agent"-centered infrastructure that goes beyond simple tools to become a corporate standard.
Park Nam-ok, head of Google Cloud Korea, unveiled a digital innovation direction in which "sovereign AI" — which fully guarantees data sovereignty — and "physical AI" — which directly interacts with the various systems of warships — will serve as core drivers of next-generation smart warships. She also clearly outlined the concept of a robust "security blueprint" that must accompany the adoption of advanced AI technology.
Roh Myung-il, professor of naval architecture and ocean engineering at Seoul National University and a leading domestic expert in AI-based computational design and simulation, presented how AI is innovating each stage of ship design. "To strengthen the competitiveness of warship design, we must actively embrace new technologies rather than remain bound to traditional methods," Roh said. "We need to continuously refine technology through industry-academia-research cooperation." Jung Ji-hoon, a team leader at Hanwha Systems, presented "AI-Based Manpower-Saving Smart Battleship," visualizing the changes that advanced AI and unmanned automation technology will bring to future warships and naval innovation strategies in an era of demographic cliff.
"We will continue intensive research and development so that our warships can stand tall as strategic assets that lead the paradigm of global maritime defense," said Eo Sung-chul, president of Hanwha Ocean's Naval and Special Ship Business Unit.
