HD Hyundai to design Korea’s first AI-powered uncrewed naval vessel

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan (HD Hyundai)

Korea’s leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai announced Tuesday that its largest shipyard, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has secured a conceptual design project from the South Korean Navy for an uncrewed surface combat vessel.

Under the project, HD HHI will outline the vessel’s conceptual framework, including the required performance and technologies, as well as strategies for acquiring those capabilities. The design phase is scheduled for completion by December.

According to the company, the future vessel will be powered by advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to respond flexibly and effectively to diverse combat scenarios in next-generation naval operations.

“We deeply value the opportunity to lead the base design of an uncrewed surface vessel, a core element of the Navy’s future capabilities,” said Joo Won-ho, head of HD HHI’s special ship division.

Amid South Korea’s ongoing demographic decline and resulting personnel shortages, the Navy has set a goal of making uncrewed assets — including submarines and aerial units — a key part of its force structure by the 2040s.

Its parent company, HD Hyundai, partnered with US-based artificial intelligence leader Palantir in 2024 for the development of uncrewed vessels, marking the beginning of its involvement in the uncrewed systems sector in earnest.

Earlier in April, HD Hyundai also partnered with a US AI defense firm, Anduril Industries, to explore opportunities in the global uncrewed vessel market, as a separate initiative from the Navy project.

“HD HHI will provide a blueprint for uncrewed warships that will drive the Navy’s advancement by combining human personnel and uncrewed systems,” Joo added. “This will be achieved through our AI-powered automation, electrification and human-optional operation technologies.”