Hanwha Systems Begins Development of 'Swarm Unmanned Surface Vehicle Technology'... Contributing to the "Smart Navy"

Cluster Unmanned Surface Vehicle

Cluster Unmanned Surface Vehicle Response Demonstration

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] 'Swarm unmanned surface vessel (USV) operation technology' capable of performing combat missions at a level comparable to humans is being developed for the first time in Korea.

Hanwha Systems announced on the 22nd that it has launched a 19 billion KRW project to develop 'swarm USV operation technology' by 2024, led by the Defense Advanced Research Institute of the Agency for Defense Development, with participation from industry-academia-research organizations including Hanwha Systems, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), and Dongguk University.

This development project is the first future challenge defense technology project implemented this year under the Defense Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Act enacted in March, aimed at integrating civilian technological capabilities into defense research and development (R&D). It is also promoted as part of the Republic of Korea Navy's 'smart navy' strategy to respond to the reality of future battlefield environments shifting to hyper-connected networks and the reduction of manpower resources.

Hanwha Systems will build a swarm communication network and an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm demonstration platform in this development project. They plan to establish an AI platform for swarm USVs performing various maritime operational missions and remote control equipment to conduct practical demonstrations and verification of AI operational algorithms.

Swarm USVs are considered a key asymmetric power leading future naval warfare. Developed based on AI reinforcement learning, they feature real-time situational awareness and the ability to perform combat missions similar to human intelligence.

They can conduct 24-hour surveillance and reconnaissance in contact areas for rapid detection and response, and can be used as a force to remove naval mines underwater, quickly securing safe routes in major ports.

They also have the advantage of responding to multiple enemy surface forces infiltrations such as North Korea's air-cushion landing craft or tracking underwater infiltrations. In particular, they can disperse enemy combat power while minimizing human casualties.

Kim Yeon-cheol of Hanwha Systems stated, “We will focus all of Hanwha Systems' capabilities to contribute to the Republic of Korea Navy's 'smart navy' strategy and to establish swarm USVs as a world-class technology.”

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