Submission of Proposal for Reconnaissance Unmanned Surface Vehicle System Development Project
Military to Invest 41.9 Billion Won... Contract Signing Scheduled for This November
The Republic of Korea military is set to have LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems compete for the development project of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) reconnaissance system. Once deployed, the USVs equipped with reconnaissance and combat capabilities are expected to establish a dense coastal surveillance network, addressing the issue of manpower shortages.
The unmanned landing craft Haeryeong developed by Hanwha Systems can identify targets, obstacles, and surrounding maritime conditions based on AI, and can automatically approach and dock without human operation. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 23rd, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced, “LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems have submitted proposals for the reconnaissance USV system development project, which will receive an investment of 41.9 billion KRW in 2027,” adding, “After evaluating the proposals, a contract is expected to be signed by November.”
The USVs to be deployed by the military will have a hull length of approximately 12 meters. The Agency for Defense Development began the ‘Leading Core Technology Project’ in 2015 to develop military USVs. This bidding process is for the actual design of a USV concept that can be deployed in the battlefield.
Hanwha Systems Can Operate Using Low Earth Orbit Satellites
In April this year, Hanwha Systems, together with Hanwha Ocean, was selected as the preferred negotiator for the Navy’s ‘Concept Design Project for Reconnaissance Unmanned Submersibles and Mine Warfare USVs.’ This is seen as securing a favorable position early on. Hanwha Systems possesses the reconnaissance USV “Haeryeong (Sea GHOST)” and multi-mission USVs. Haeryeong is AI-based and can identify targets, obstacles, and surrounding maritime conditions, and can autonomously depart and dock without human operation. Additionally, by utilizing its own low earth orbit satellite network currently under construction, Hanwha Systems emphasizes the advantage of being able to operate USVs even in distant maritime areas. In 2021, Hanwha Systems invested $300 million (approximately 400 billion KRW) in the UK space internet company OneWeb and is building a military communication network.
LIG Nex1 entered the USV business in 2015. It led a civilian-military technology application research project conducted by DAPA and the Civil-Military Cooperation Promotion Agency, developing the coastal surveillance reconnaissance USV Haegum (海劍). Since then, it has introduced various USVs including Haegum-II (surface and underwater reconnaissance), Haegum-III (dedicated unmanned patrol vessel for coastal surveillance and response), and Haegum-V (ship-mounted USV). Last year, LIG Nex1 completed a dedicated system integration test facility for USVs at its Gumi plant, enabling simultaneous assembly and inspection of USVs.
LIG Nex1’s Guided Rockets Recognized in the U.S. as Well
Notably, Haegum-III is equipped with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 2.75-inch guided rocket launcher (Bigung, Poniard), enhancing its combat capability. On the 12th of this month, during the final test firing of the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) conducted in the waters off Hawaii, all six rockets successfully hit their targets. FCT is a program by the U.S. Department of Defense that evaluates technologies from allied defense companies worldwide to link them to U.S.-led development and acquisition projects. This is the first case in both Korea and the U.S. to apply unmanned concepts throughout the entire process, including ‘unmanned target detection ? aerial drone detection ? satellite communication ? guided rocket launch from USV.’
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