South Korean Navy conducts 1st undersea mine-sweeping trial using ‘AI officer’, unmanned vessels

South Korea's Navy conducted its first AI-based mine-sweeping trial using unmanned vessels and drones in Busan, testing future maritime capabilities. The exercise demonstrated AI-assisted coordination between manned and unmanned systems, as Seoul advances plans for next-generation naval technologies and destroyers

Seoul: South Korea’s Navy said on Monday it carried out its first mine-sweeping trial using artificial intelligence (AI) technology and unmanned vessels, as it seeks to advance its future maritime operational capabilities.

The trial, jointly led by South Korean defence company Hanwha Systems, took place at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan, involving its 730-ton Ongjin minesweeper and spy drones, as well as two unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and one autonomous underwater vehicle developed by Hanwha, the Navy said.

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The hypothetical exercise began under the scenario that the Busan port was blockaded by enemy mines, reports Yonhap news agency.

Hanwha’s USVs are not equipped for minesweeping purposes, but they acted as if they were during this trial, as the vessels are expected to be upgraded with mine-clearing capabilities in the future, the Navy said.

The trial mission was directed by an “AI staff officer” system, which analysed weather and sea current conditions to guide the human commander on the Ongjin vessel and the two unmanned vessels. Based on the report from the AI staff officer, the Ongjin and the unmanned ships set up search zones to locate simulated sea mines, while the spy drones simultaneously assessed the operational environment around the port.

The combat trial proved that combining AI-supported missions with manned and unmanned crew operations will be effective for future naval operations, the Navy said. In a separate development, earlier in July, South Korea’s state arms procurement agency officially concluded a deal with Hanwha Ocean Co. to kick-start the development of a next-generation Navy destroyer, with the aim of delivering the lead ship to the Navy by 2032.

The Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it inked the deal with Hanwha Ocean on detailed planning and construction of the lead ship for the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) program.