Hanwha Ocean offers glimpse of future naval ships in Busan

An illustration of Hanwha Ocean's futuristic destroyer equipped with electric propulsion, an integrated mast, advanced hull forms, networked combat systems and a smart bridge / Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

Hanwha Ocean is showcasing futuristic naval vessels — ranging from surface ships to submarines and unmanned systems — at this year's International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition.

During the four-day biennial event that kicked off in Busan, Wednesday, the shipbuilder is introducing 10 unmanned vessels, four surface ships and three submarines through small-scale replicas and digital mock-ups.

In the unmanned systems category, the most notable exhibits include a combat unmanned underwater vehicle and a command-and-control ship designed for manned-unmanned teaming.

Hanwha Ocean said the latter is a strategic asset developed to support the Republic of Korea Navy's "smart navy" vision and its "Sea GHOST" (guardian harmonized with operating manned systems and technology-based unmanned systems) concept, capable of operating and commanding a wide range of unmanned and manned assets for complex maritime missions.

The surface ship lineup includes a next-generation frigate with enhanced ballistic missile defense capabilities, as well as a futuristic destroyer equipped with electric propulsion, an integrated mast, advanced hull forms, networked combat systems and a smart bridge. Hanwha Ocean said these technologies were developed to address crew shortages.

In the submarine segment, the company presents a variety of models tailored to meet the needs of navies from different countries.

Of particular note is a 3,600-ton submarine that grained the attention of Poland and Canada. It features the world's first combination of air-independent propulsion and lithium-ion battery technology, which Hanwha Ocean said enables the longest submerged endurance among existing diesel-electric submarines.

The company added that the futuristic submarines on display also feature stealth shaping, advanced detection systems and high-performance propulsion, meeting the specific demands of international clients.

"Rather than displaying existing naval vessels, we focused on showcasing next-generation warships equipped with cutting-edge technologies," a Hanwha Ocean official said. "We plan to apply those technologies to the development of new vessels after gathering feedback from naval officers and other experts."