Hanwha Systems to Develop Ship-based Reconnaissance UAV For South Korean Navy

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), in collaboration with Hanwha Systems, has announced the commencement of a project aimed at developing a business system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for ship-mounted reconnaissance in the northwest islands.

This initiative, spearheaded by Hanwha Systems, is set to receive an investment of approximately 143.3 billion won spanning from December 2023 to December 2028.

The UAV project targets the creation of Korea's first rotary wing-shaped unmanned aerial vehicle capable of operation on both land and ships, eliminating the need for a runway. Equipped with a high-performance optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera and a multi-function radar, the system aims to facilitate effective surveillance and reconnaissance by adapting its equipment to the operating environment – be it sea or land – and the specific target.

Designed to be deployed on Navy ships and Marine Corps Northwest Islands units, where the use of UAVs was previously constrained, the project aims to address heightened security concerns in the region, given North Korea's persistent provocations. The UAVs will leverage simultaneous optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera and radar capabilities to extend the reconnaissance range in front of the Northwestern Islands, providing 24-hour surveillance to detect potential threats or provocations by adversaries or neighboring countries at an early stage.

Kim Tae-gon, Head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration Advanced Technology Division, acknowledged the challenges associated with UAV ship loading and landing technology. He stated, "Despite the high level of difficulty in unmanned aerial vehicle ship loading and landing technology, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration is working with the military and development companies to develop unmanned aerial vehicles for ship-mounted reconnaissance/northwestern islands." He emphasized the administration's commitment to deploying the developed UAVs in the northwest islands to preemptively detect and respond to threats through real-time surveillance and reconnaissance.

Highlighting potential future applications, Kim Tae-gon suggested that the private sector could leverage the UAVs in areas where the operation of existing fixed-wing UAVs is restricted. He also expressed optimism about the system's success leading to future exports in the unmanned aerial vehicle field by Korean defense companies.