The US conducted its first combat strike with unmanned surface vessels (USVs) on July 13, destroying an Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarine at a base. Chinese military analysts are now urging the PLA to bolster harbor defenses against similar threats.
Hanwha Systems has successfully launched a 30-ton unmanned surface vessel (USV) and is conducting sea trials, accelerating its push into the global maritime defense market. The company is investing approximately 70 billion won to develop 30-ton and 140-ton USVs, aiming to integrate AI-based autonomous navigation and meet US Navy UMAA standards.
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are transforming naval operations and civilian sectors with their stealth, persistence, and risk reduction capabilities. India is heavily investing in indigenous development and integration of these systems, facing unique challenges in its maritime environment.
China is developing wave-powered autonomous vessels for sustainable distant water management, potentially for patrols, monitoring, and search and rescue operations. These AI-enabled USVs offer a low-cost alternative to traditional naval assets for continuous maritime surveillance.
Hanwha Group has formed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Magnet Defense to jointly develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) for the U.S. military. The memorandum of understanding was signed at the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Maryland. The companies plan to produce a 38-meter MUSV based on Magnet Defense's M48 platform combined with Hanwha's shipbuilding and defense technologies for potential supply to the Pentagon.
The GJ-21, naval variant of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, is the world's first and only operational ship-based stealth combat drone. Seen on the Fujian aircraft carrier and Type 076 amphibious landing ship Sichuan, both equipped with electromagnetic catapults, it offers long endurance and high maneuverability for countering swarm attacks by unmanned surface vessels.
