Haedal-Class unmanned surface vessel

Haedal class

KHMS Haedal-01 in an armaments launch test.
Class overview
Builders:	Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Operators:	Royal Joseon Navy
Built:	2023–present
In service:	2024-present
Planned:	120
Building:	16
Completed:	40
Active:	36
General characteristics
Type:	Unmanned surface vessel
Tonnage:	1,520 tonnes
Length:	105.2 m (345 ft 2 in)
Beam:	29.3 m (96 ft 2 in)
Draft:	3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:	Four CODAG Water Jet
Speed:	41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph)
Range:	1,200 nmi (1,400 mi; 2,200 km)
Troops:	120
Crew:	0-25
Sensors and processing systems:	STX RadarSys SPS-100K surface scanning radar LIG Nex1 SPS-540K 3D anti-air scanning radar Saab CEROS 200/SPG-540K fire control radar/navigation radar Hanhwa Defence EOTS Hanhwa Defence FLIR
Electronic warfare & decoys:	LIG Nex1 SLQ-200(V)K SONATA ESM/ECM
Armament:	2x mounts for K6 .50 caliber machine guns Mk. 41 VLS 48 cells 1x 20 mm CIWS 3x 25mm remote-control weapon system
Aircraft carried:	Landing pad for a helicopter, up to CH-53 Super Stallion / parking and storage area for MH-60 Seahawk and NUH-1

Haedal-Class Unmanned surface vessels are ocean operational vessels that were developed as part of the Royal Joseon Navy's Unmanned Surface Vessels project. Haedal-Class is designed to perform missions on behalf of manned ships within dangerous combat theaters. The Haedal-Class can be controlled by 25 crew members, but when necessary, the Haedal-Class can perform its own operations with high autonomy under the command and control of the artificial intelligence onboard the ship.

Description

Unmanned operational capability

Haedal-Class utilizes the NSA(Naval Standard Artificial Intelligence)-01 AI, developed by Hanwha Defense, as the main control system for ships. NSA-01 is an AI with a higher level of thinking and autonomy than the MSA-01 AI used in KF-25 fighter jets of the Air Force and Navy. NSA-01 controls ships on its own without crew intervention according to pre-assigned mission information and uses armaments by recognizing the situation through navigation information, IFF(identification of friend or foe) information, and information about surrounding terrain and objects.

Haedal-Class uses AI's control to determine dangerous situations and dangerous levels to carry out attacks on enemy ships or ground and aerial targets. In this process, human controllers can issue commands to Haedal-Class through communication, but if it is perceived as high risk, NSA-01 conducts attacks on enemies without detailed human commands. However, this is only possible when information is entered on the commander's firing approval order.

To prevent the capture of the Haedal-Class, NSA-01 detects that vessels not marked as allies to IFF approach the vessel without permission during a complete unmanned operation, and maintains a certain distance from it. If the unauthorized vessels continue to approach the Haedal-Class, NSA-01 uses the available weapons to defeat the enemy. If it is detected that enemy forces are on board the Haedal-Class, NSA-01 blocks each section of the ship, and if it becomes impossible to prevent the ship's capture, NSA-01 orders the ship to be self-sink.

Armaments

The main weapon of the Haedal-Class is the Mk. 41 VLS. The Haedal-Class is equipped with a total of 48 cells of the Mk.41 VLS, which allows the Haedal-Class to operate various anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-ship missiles. The 20 mm CIWS, which performs the final defense of the ship, is installed between the VLS and the helideck to defend against enemy air and sea threats approaching the ship. The 25 mm RCWS, installed on the bow of the ship, has a launch speed of 500 rpm. The 25 mm RCWS is mainly used to attack small sea targets.

All armaments of the Haedal-Class can be completely controlled by NSA-01.

Transport capability

Haedal-Class can carry 200 tons of cargo or 120 troops if needed.

Protection

Haedal-Class has military-grade protection against non-nuclear and nuclear shock wave EMPs.