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South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet

20th June 2025 - 16:45 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Busan, South Korea

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Hanwha’s 130t Combat USV is scheduled for development in the 2026–30 period, and it has an expected length of 35.46m. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)

South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.

South Korea’s unmanned surface vessel (USV) sector is evolving rapidly, with multiple new designs under development as the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) looks to counter North Korean threats and address manpower shortages caused by declining birth rates.

A key driver of this effort is the Sea GHOST initiative (Guardian Harmonised with Operating manned Systems and Technology-based unmanned systems), launched by the ROKN in November 2022. This roadmap envisions a family of USVs, ranging from small reconnaissance craft to large, heavily armed combat USVs capable of launching loitering munition swarms, with the potential to replace fast attack craft in future

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Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet