ADEX 2025 – Hanwha displays its Modular Unmanned Surface Vessel concept

Close the new Ghost Commander II concept ship, Hanwha exhibited its Modular USV concept. The system is based on a single platform that can be fitted with different mission modules

With low visibility clearly a key project feature, considering the shape and the material used, these are based on a single hull design, a pyramidal superstructure at the centre hosting a 360° window with four omnidirectional cameras ensuring all-round observation. On top of the pyramid, we find the navigation radar, while on the deck, in front of the superstructure, we find the SATCOM antenna ensuring communications via the Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation for remote control at distance, even over the horizon, followed by the electro optic/infrared suite, three LIDAR ensuring obstacle avoidance capacity. The bow hosts a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The boat has a displacement of around 30 tonnes, is approximately 30 metres long with a bow of 3.4 metres. Propulsion is fully electric, lithium-ion batteries powering electric motors that activate the two hydrojets, a solution that should ensure low-noise operations in line with the stealth design of the boat; maximum speed is estimated between 25 and 30 knots, while mission duration at cruise speed is 24 hours.

The rear of the boat is empty and can host the mission module. Three different modules could be seen at ADEX, one with two eight-cell rocket launchers, one with a multiple UAV/loitering munitions launcher, and one capable to launch unmanned underwater vehicles.

The multi-role mission capability allows to conduct operations using the same platform in different role, the LEO SATCOM capability ensuring stable communication with swarms of boats. The capacity to operate several boats in different roles ensures surveillance missions along the coast minimising blind spots in difficult scenarios where numerous islands (as in the southern part of the ROK) can make it difficult to properly control the area, relocating unmanned surface platforms according to the evolving situation and exploiting UAVs and UUVs to further increase situational awareness, rockets and loitering munitions providing integral hard kill capability, thus shortening the sensor-to-shooter cycle.

The boats designed according to the Modular Unmanned Surface Vessel can eventually be embarked on bigger naval platforms, such as the Ghost Commander II, also exhibited at ADEX 2025.

Photos by P. Valpolini