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South Korea is Building a Drone-Enabled Naval Fleet Led by a Giant Command Ship Inspired by HMS Dreadnought.
In an article dated May 11, 2025, the Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea is undergoing a major transformation in its naval strategy by launching the construction of a multi-purpose command ship centered on the deployment of unmanned systems, marking the emergence of a new model of maritime power in Asia. Presented in May 2025 to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, the program aims to equip the Republic of Korea Navy with a vessel capable of coordinating precision strikes, supporting amphibious operations, securing maritime routes, and responding to natural disasters, relying on a fleet of aerial, surface, and underwater drones. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the project's lead contractor, is currently working on the ship’s concept design, with an initial presentation expected soon before the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
This shift in doctrine comes after South Korea officially cancelled its CV-X program, which had aimed to develop a light aircraft carrier capable of deploying up to twenty F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter jets (Picture source: South Korean MoD)
Designated as the “Multi-purpose Unmanned Manned Integrated Command Ship,” this future vessel is expected to carry several dozen combat drones, reconnaissance UAVs, and loitering munitions, alongside transport and attack helicopters. The platform is projected to displace close to 30,000 tons, in line with major amphibious ships, and will be able to operate unmanned systems across all domains in a configuration aligned with the emerging Sea GHOST doctrine (Genuine High-tech Operative Ship Team) promoted by the South Korean Navy. A scale model of the ship was previously displayed by Hanwha Ocean at the MADEX 2023 exhibition, showing a configuration near 16,000 tons, with a flight deck, modular hangars, and advanced command capabilities. Analysts see it as the potential core of a future unmanned fleet, comparable in displacement to the historic British battleship HMS Dreadnought (18,120 tons), to which it draws a symbolic parallel.
This initiative follows a path already being explored by the Republic of Korea Navy, notably with the sea trials carried out in November 2024 using the American-made Gray Eagle STOL drone aboard the amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo. That test marked the first time a fixed-wing UAV had operated from a South Korean naval vessel. The drone, based on General Atomics’ Mojave platform, was assembled aboard and tested for one week before successfully taking off over the East Sea (Sea of Japan). While the drone did not land on the ship, the operation confirmed the feasibility of mixed drone-ship operations from medium-sized amphibious platforms. These tests support the idea that future Korean ships, including the planned command ship, will be specifically optimized to handle fixed-wing UAVs in addition to helicopters and VTOL UAVs already in use.
This shift in doctrine comes after South Korea officially cancelled its CV-X program, which had aimed to develop a light aircraft carrier capable of deploying up to twenty F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter jets. Although the CV-X was included in successive defense plans since 2019, it never received final funding nor resulted in a contract with Lockheed Martin. The changing operational context, cost considerations, and the emergence of new forms of naval warfare led Seoul to adopt a more flexible and interoperable solution, less reliant on large, manned platforms.
In November 2024, the Republic of Korea Navy conducted its first-ever fixed-wing UAV sea trial using the Gray Eagle STOL drone aboard the amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo (Picture source: US DoD)
In parallel, South Korea is also actively developing a Combat Unmanned Surface Vehicle (Combat USV), entrusted to Hyundai Heavy Industries. This 30-meter-long, 100-ton-class vessel was exhibited at the Drone Show Korea 2025 in several weapon configurations. These include a 20mm automatic cannon, 70mm Poniard guided missiles, 130mm missile launchers, C-Star anti-ship missiles, and loitering munitions. The vessel is expected to be equipped with radar, infrared, and electro-optical sensors, LIDAR, 360-degree cameras, and satellite communication systems, allowing it to operate autonomously or under remote control in coastal and contested environments.
The concept design phase for the Combat USV is ongoing until December 2025. It aims to define target performance specifications, technological architecture, and acquisition strategies. Over time, this unmanned vessel is expected to assume roles currently performed by crewed ships in high-risk zones. It will be integrated into autonomous squadrons alongside aerial and underwater drones, forming the backbone of a future unmanned naval force.
South Korea is also planning to establish, in the medium term, a dedicated Naval Unmanned Forces Command composed of specialized squadrons operating uncrewed aerial, surface, and underwater systems. By the 2040s, this structure is expected to be fully operational, capable of managing joint and multi-domain operations with a high degree of autonomous decision-making. This long-term approach also addresses a growing demographic challenge in South Korea, as a shrinking population of military-age personnel requires a reevaluation of force structure and deployment models.
Through large-scale investments in artificial intelligence, automation, and naval robotics, South Korea is positioning itself as a key actor in the transition toward unmanned maritime operations. This strategy, based on modular ship design, interoperable systems, and a doctrine adapted to future threats, may gradually reshape the balance of maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region. The future command ship is set to serve as the centerpiece of this transformation, not only as a force projection tool, but also as the central node of a fleet guided by AI, resilient to saturation threats, and capable of executing deep, coordinated operations.