Hanwha Systems (272210) has launched a self-developed 30-ton unmanned surface vessel (pictured), setting its sights on the global maritime unmanned systems market.
Hanwha Systems said on the 9th that its 30-ton unmanned surface vessel, developed through its own investment, was successfully launched near Busan's Gadeokdaegyo Bridge early last month and has begun full-scale sea trials, traveling between Busan and Jangmok Port in Geoje.
Hanwha Systems is investing approximately 70 billion won to develop 30-ton and 140-ton unmanned surface vessels. The 30-ton vessel launched this time will be used as a key testbed to verify artificial intelligence (AI)-based autonomous navigation technology and open architecture through the end of 2027. The company also plans to unveil a 140-ton unmanned surface vessel capable of carrying out combat missions by the end of this year.
Unmanned surface vessels are operated through the organic integration of a combat management system (CMS), an engineering control system (ECS), and autonomous navigation technology. In particular, to enter the global market, a company must secure a software structure that meets the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA) standards. UMAA is a system design that enables unmanned systems to assess situations and carry out missions on their own without human intervention.
Hanwha Systems completed domestic standard verification based on the autonomous navigation technology applied to its reconnaissance unmanned surface vessel "Haeryong," and on this basis is pursuing verification of global standard compatibility that meets the U.S. Navy's UMAA standards. The company plans to further secure next-generation autonomous navigation technology that incorporates AI to perform obstacle and target detection, friend-or-foe identification, and tracking.
"Through Hanwha Systems' unmanned surface vessels, which have fully internalized global standards, advanced AI autonomous navigation technology, and command-and-control technology, we will expand the Republic of Korea's maritime defense technology territory to the world," said Yoo Moon-ki, head of Hanwha Systems' maritime business division.
