South Korea’s Drone Carrier Concept Can Host UAVs, Unmanned Boats Submarine

At the MADEX 2025 International Maritime Defense Exhibition, Hyundai Heavy Industries revealed the HCX-23 Plus — a conceptual drone carrier designed exclusively for unmanned operations at sea, including aerial, surface, and subsurface missions.

MADEX 2025 was held in Busan from May 28-May 31.

Unlike hybrid drone carriers such as Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, which was adapted from a manned aircraft carrier concept, the HCX-23 Plus is designed from the ground up for unmanned systems. The model reflects a shift in naval thinking by fully removing the need to accommodate manned aircraft. Instead, it integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) into a single, streamlined platform.

“This is not a retrofitted concept — HCX-23 Plus is a purpose-built solution for unmanned maritime warfare,” a Hyundai Heavy Industries spokesperson was quoted as saying by IFENG.COM at the exhibition.

Double-deck design tailored for drones

The most notable feature of the HCX-23 Plus is its double-deck layout, which separates landing and take-off operations for drones. The upper flight deck is dedicated to landings and includes arresting cables and a large elevator. Landed drones are lowered to a lower enclosed hangar and launch area, which features a short-range catapult and flame shield for jet-powered UAVs.

The carrier also includes a sunken deck at the stern for vertical take-off and landing drones, and the absence of an island superstructure reduces radar signature while opening more space for flight operations.

Compact but capable

Despite its relatively small displacement of 15,000 tons, the HCX-23 Plus is designed to carry a drone fleet rivaling or even exceeding that of larger, hybrid carriers like the 27,000-ton Anadolu. This is due to layout optimization for unmanned systems — without manned aircraft or traditional aviation support, space is used more efficiently.

A large tail hatch and internal dock allow launch and recovery of USVs and UUVs, enabling a full-spectrum unmanned combat system. This three-domain capacity — air, surface, and subsurface — makes the HCX-23 Plus a force multiplier within naval fleets.

Retro design with modern stealth

The decision to exclude an island places the HCX-23 Plus in a lineage of early 20th-century aircraft carriers like the British Argus and American Langley. However, its modern twist is a full-stealth hull design with an inward-sloping, polyhedral surface to minimize radar visibility. Navigation and control functions are embedded within the structure between the two decks, with a small porthole-equipped control room for launch supervision.

A broader unmanned fleet vision

In addition to the HCX-23 Plus, Hyundai also displayed the HCX-23 stealth frigate — a 6,000-ton warship carrying only drones, armed with a laser weapon and vertical launch cells. Both designs prioritize unmanned integration, aligning with South Korea’s growing interest in drone-focused naval forces.

Separately, Hanwha Group presented its own drone carrier model called Ghost Commander, but observers at MADEX2025 considered Hyundai’s concept more practical and implementation-ready.

According to analysts, these developments point to a global trend: next-generation drone carriers are expected to be smaller (6,000–15,000 tons), fully stealthy, and designed solely around unmanned combat needs. Such vessels could play critical support roles in traditional carrier strike groups by extending sensor reach, striking power, and undersea awareness without placing human operators at risk.