[Militech] Navy Completes Preparations for GHOST Combat System

Gradual Deployment of Reconnaissance Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) and Other Platforms

Navies around the world are accelerating the adoption of unmanned capabilities. Earlier this year, the Royal Australian Navy established the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU). Leading MASU's 'triad' are the Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle tasked with deep-sea reconnaissance; the Bluebottle, an unmanned surface vessel powered by solar and wind energy; and the Speartooth, specialized for underwater attack missions. MASU enables 24-hour operations. Since there are no crew onboard, there are, in theory, no operational time limits as long as refueling and maintenance can be carried out. Through this unit, Australia has established a network that enables autonomous system control at any port in the world.

On the 3rd, during the "Navy AI-Based Mine Warfare Unmanned System Combat Experiment" conducted at the Busan Naval Base, an unmanned surface vehicle (unmanned minesweeper replica) operating under the command of the Navy minesweeper Ongjin (MSH, 730t class) is maneuvering to operate the minesweeping equipment. Photo by the Navy

The Republic of Korea Navy is also rapidly introducing a manned-unmanned integrated combat system as part of its "Navy Sea GHOST" strategy. "Navy Sea GHOST" is the strategic name symbolizing the Navy’s ongoing unmanned and manned-mixed combat network for maritime operations. The core of this strategy is to integrate unmanned platforms on the surface, undersea, and in the air into a unified battlespace network to conduct joint operations. The Navy plans to sequentially introduce a wide range of unmanned assets, including unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for reconnaissance, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for combat, and shipboard unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Each platform is linked under a single command and performs maritime operations autonomously and in a distributed fashion.

Hanwha Systems is leading the development of the Combat Management System (CMS), which is a core infrastructure for the Navy Sea GHOST strategy. To manage the entire battlespace in an integrated way, a system that fuses the sensors and data from every asset and analyzes the situation is essential. Based on such analysis, the CMS issues commands and controls platforms. The CMS is regarded as the key technology of the Navy Sea GHOST project.

Hanwha Systems Leads Key CMS Technology Development for GHOST

On August 3, the Navy completed an "AI-based Mine Warfare Unmanned System Combat Experiment" at Busan Naval Base. This experiment deployed the 730-ton class minesweeper Ongjin, surveillance and reconnaissance drones, two USVs from Hanwha Systems, and one autonomous underwater mine search vehicle (AUV). A minesweeper is a ship that performs mine detection, identification, and disposal missions. The AUV, an unmanned system operated remotely or autonomously underwater, conducts various tasks such as mine search without any onboard crew.

The exercise was based on a hypothetical scenario in which Busan Port was blockaded by enemy naval mines. First, an LLM-based anti-mine warfare AI support system analyzed weather and current data and devised a mine detection and disposal plan using the minesweeper and unmanned minesweeper. The plan was then reported to the commander of the Ongjin. After the commander approved the plan, the mission orders were transmitted to both the manned and unmanned minesweeping assets. The Ongjin and the unmanned minesweeper divided the search area by sector to look for simulated mines, while surveillance and reconnaissance drones monitored the operating environment inside the port.

A Single Crewed Ship Commands a Fleet of Unmanned Minesweepers

The unmanned minesweeper detected mines by deploying its onboard AUV. Subsequently, the Automated Mine Detection System (AMDS) installed on the Ongjin analyzed the target data gathered by the AUV and reported to the commander that the mines were enemy-laid. After the Ongjin moved to a safe zone in preparation for potential mine explosions, it acted as the command and control ship, orchestrating the unmanned minesweeper squadron. The experiment concluded with the unmanned minesweeper performing a simulated procedure to remove the mines using its minesweeping equipment.

Even just the placement of naval mines or confirmation of intelligence about them can restrict harbor use for both naval and civilian vessels. Utilizing unmanned systems in the mine-search process reduces the risk of personnel injury and enables a more efficient search of wider sea areas. Naval mines are underwater weapons installed at sea to blockade ports or disrupt maritime shipping lanes. They come in various types, including contact mines that explode upon direct impact with a vessel, influence mines that detect the vessel’s magnetic or acoustic signatures, and composite mines that combine more than one of these triggering methods.

Vice Admiral Kwak Kwangseop, Commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet, stated, "We will accelerate the integration of AI technology at the Busan AI Conversion (AX) hub and promote further civil-military collaboration so that we can rapidly enhance our maritime operational capabilities through various combat experiments."

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