[Militech] First Media Ride on Unmanned Surface Vessel... 30-Ton Class Nears Deployment

Test Ride of Hanwha Systems’ Independently Developed 30-Ton Class Unmanned Surface Vehicle

The 30-ton class unmanned surface vessel developed by Hanwha Systems was medium-sized, measuring 21m in length and 4.5m in width. Photo by Hanwha Systems

The pace of domestic unmanned surface vehicle (USV) development is accelerating in South Korea. Hanwha Systems has independently developed a 30-ton class USV, following its achievement as the first domestic defense company to develop the 'Sea Ghost (14-ton class)' for a national agency. To see the 30-ton class USV developed by Hanwha Systems up close, we visited Gadeok Bridge in Busan. The unmanned surface vessel at the dock did not look much different from an ordinary commercial ship. Measuring 21 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width, it was a medium-sized vessel.

First in Korea to Develop 30-Ton Class Following the 14-Ton Class

The interior of the unmanned surface vehicle was simple. On the left was a table for spreading out navigation maps, while the right housed the cockpit. Behind the cockpit, an Engine Control System (ECS) was installed. A short stairway led down half a level, where a water thruster used to change the bow direction was visible towards the front of the vessel. This water thruster sprays water left and right, enabling the USV to adjust its course. Although unmanned, the USV was even equipped with a compact restroom for occasions when people board the vessel.

Equipped with 1,500 Horsepower Water Jet Engines

This was the USV's maiden voyage after being launched three days earlier. According to a company representative, this was "the first ride by a media outlet," and the vessel began to accelerate. Leaving Cheonseong Port, the vessel cruised at 5 knots (10 km/h) until it passed Jinu Island and Nulcha Island, about 5 kilometers away. Perhaps because it was the first voyage, a sense of tension was evident on the faces of the staff. When the speed was increased to 30 knots, the USV shot forward like an angry shark. The USV was fitted with two 1,500-horsepower water jet engines. Water jets power propulsion by drawing water inside the hull and blasting it backward at high speed; the reactive force propels the ship forward. As speed increased, the jet of water erupting from the stern became even higher.

Navigation Safety Maintained Even in Sea State 3

The USV began zigzag maneuvers while maintaining a speed of 30 knots. The vessel tilted more than 45 degrees. The speed was increased to 45 knots. The vibration of the engines could even be felt through the deck. After 30 minutes of this maneuvering, the staff stopped to check the engine status in the engine room. The foam on the sea indicated the path the USV took. Although navigation stopped, the vessel continued to sway side to side. The sea state that day was level 3, with wave heights of 0.5 to 1.25 meters and strong winds. The USV operated undeterred. At the bow, the water thrusters ejected water left and right, allowing the vessel to rotate 360 degrees in place. This was a moment to showcase the performance of the ECS, which monitors collected data in real time to notify the operator of inspection periods for the propulsion, power system, and other onboard equipment.

A company representative explained, "The USV can autonomously dock and berth even in narrow spaces and, when operated in a swarm, can calculate sea conditions in real time to guide its navigation."

The unmanned surface vessel began zigzagging at a speed of 30 knots. Although the ship tilted more than 45 degrees, it maintained a speed of 45 knots without any issues. Photo by Hanwha Systems

The 30-ton class USV is scheduled to be equipped with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA) by the end of this year. This aims at targeting the U.S. market. The U.S. Navy is currently developing a vessel called the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MASC), which is designed to carry up to approximately 30 tons. If mine removal unmanned equipment is installed on a domestically produced USV, it could be sufficiently capable of removing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The USV’s stern had a spacious deck area. A company representative stated, "We will equip the vessel with a 12.7mm Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), loitering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and mine removal unmanned systems to execute combat missions. Equipping with loitering USVs and other systems will enable a wide variety of mission changes." Hanwha Systems also plans to develop and launch by the end of this year a 140-ton class USV capable of anti-submarine operations.

Hanwha Systems is targeting the global USV market because the sector is experiencing rapid growth. According to market research firm Market Research Future, the global USV market is expected to more than double from 2.6 billion dollars (about 3.64 trillion won) in 2024 to 6.2 billion dollars (approximately 8.68 trillion won) in 2034.

Hanwha Systems became the first domestic defense company to develop the "Sea Ghost (14-ton class)" for a national agency and has further developed an unmanned surface vessel of 30 tons on its own. Photo by Hanwha Systems

Hanwha Defense USA, the American defense subsidiary of Hanwha, entered into a strategic partnership last month with Magnet Defense, a specialist in autonomous navigation. Hanwha Defense USA and Magnet Defense plan to produce the 'H38', a medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) with a length of 38 meters, to be supplied to the U.S. Department of Defense. The H38 is expected to be based on Magnet Defense’s flagship model 'M48', to which Hanwha’s technology will be added. The M48 currently boasts the longest cruising range among USVs in operation at sea, covering up to 17,000 nautical miles (about 31,484 kilometers).

A company representative stated, "We plan to develop USVs capable of operating in swarms as well as performing a variety of mission profiles. It will become a key export item for Korea’s defense industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.