Underwater Drone to Be Developed to Capture North Korea SLBM

Large-scale unmanned submarine in the world

[Agency for Defense Development]With the advancement of science and technology, the future battlefield environment is changing. Past wars aimed to destroy and collapse the enemy's warfighting capabilities. However, future wars will focus on achievable effects while minimizing collateral damage.

Future maritime warfare is expected to be conducted based on effect-centered precision strikes that monitor and detect all threatening targets and then neutralize those threats. Advanced unmanned systems aim for stealthy and accurate strikes to achieve war objectives early, and the skilled human operators' ability to manage unmanned systems will be a critical factor in combat power. Therefore, future maritime warfare will prioritize human life and conduct operations that consider human psychology.

▲The core of maritime unmanned systems, underwater drones= The paradigm of underwater warfare is rapidly shifting from manned systems to unmanned systems. Maritime unmanned systems, capable of conducting covert operations or high-threat area missions effectively underwater and on the surface, are emerging as the premier maritime force due to their unique characteristics. In particular, underwater drones play a key role as the core unmanned system in maritime combat by early detection and identification of enemy SLBMs and enabling rapid initial response.

▲Global trends in underwater drone development= Recently, military powers recognize underwater drones as essential means for victory in maritime warfare and are investing heavily in them. The United States developed the innovative large-class underwater drone LDUUV-INP (Innovative Naval Prototype) in 2015 and conducted sea trials, testing platform performance including durability in underwater environments, precision navigation, command execution, control and communication autonomy, and payload sensors. Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and others are also pursuing large-class underwater drone development projects, applying cutting-edge digital advanced technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data technologies. Large-class underwater drones are expected to be game changers that can revolutionize the future battlefield environment.

▲Our plan= A large-class underwater drone, on par with those of military powers, is being developed under the leadership of the Agency for Defense Development. The Agency began conceptual research in 2011 and started full-scale research on large-class underwater drones as the external security environment heightened the need. Currently, key technologies in the large-class underwater drone field are being focused on, including ‘surface and underwater collaborative unmanned submarine autonomous control technology,’ ‘energy sources for long-term underwater endurance of unmanned submarines,’ and ‘dedicated anti-submarine detection sonar technology for unmanned submarines.’ After securing these core technologies, the development of underwater drone systems for deployment, actual deployment, and operation is expected to proceed step by step.