The South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has announced that it will begin full-scale development of a combat Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

The shipbuilder stated that it had received a contract from the ROKN Headquarters for the 'Combat Unmanned Surface Vehicle Conceptual Design Project.’ HD HHI will design a combat unmanned surface vehicle that maximizes reliability and economy over manned ships.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Specialized Ship Business Division Head Won-ho Joo said, “I am very honoured to have won an order for the conceptual design of a combat unmanned surface vehicle, which will be the Navy’s next core business,” and added, “HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will present a blueprint for the era of combat unmanned surface vehicles that will lead manned-unmanned combined maritime power by incorporating unmanned, automated, and electrified technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI).”

The futuristic programme is the ROKN’s next core project, which will lead the development of next-generation ships based on its current strongest AEGIS destroyer construction capabilities.

HD HHI plans to hold a kick-off meeting this month and will carry out a combat unmanned surface vehicle concept design project to determine requirements and acquisition methods for performance and technology applicable to CUSVs.

This effort will take approximately 8 months and is slated for completion in December this year.

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