South Korean Navy photo

On November 12, the Navy conducted a combat experiment* on the large transport ship Dokdo (LPH) in the East Sea, launching a fixed-wing UAV (prototype) from the flight deck.

* Warfighting Experiment: A methodology that applies engineering experimental methods to the field of combat development, a process of repeatedly testing and maturing alternatives such as new technologies, new systems, new doctrines, and new organizations that meet operational concepts and required capabilities to ensure success.

South Korean Navy photo

◦ The Navy has been operating vertical takeoff and landing UAVs on ships, but this is the first time that a fixed-wing UAV, not a vertical takeoff and landing UAV, has been launched from a large ship with a flight deck like a runway.

◦ This combat experiment was conducted as part of the Navy’s plan to build a maritime manned-unmanned composite combat system for the purpose of “constructing an advanced science and technology force centered on AI-based unmanned combat systems,” and to establish a solid military readiness posture in a severe security situation and to seek ways to secure and operate unmanned aerial vehicles early.

South Korean Navy photo

◦ In particular, the possibility of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (prototypes) being operated at sea was tested by taking off and landing from the flight deck of a large ship, and the results of the combat experiment were conducted to derive development plans for the Navy’s power operation, such as the form of ships optimized for fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle operation in the mid- to long-term.

◦ Fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles have the advantage of being able to be effectively operated at sea because they have faster speeds and a wider range of activities compared to rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. However, since most fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles take off, land, and operate from long runways on land, their use on ships has been limited.

South Korean Navy photo

◦ However, the fixed-wing UAV (prototype) that underwent combat testing this time was evaluated and selected as an UAV (prototype) suitable for ship combat testing as it can take off and run from the short ship’s flight deck of less than 100 meters, and the Navy will conduct combat testing in cooperation with the relevant company.

◦ About 200 people, including Chief of Naval Operations Yang Yong-mo, the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army, the Marine Corps, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, the Agency for Defense Development, and officials from the UAV (prototype) company, attended this combat testing and shared various opinions on the technology and operational concepts required for operating UAVs on ships.

◦ The UAV (prototype) used in the combat testing is a fixed-wing aircraft with a wingspan of 16 meters and a length of 9 meters. After loading the UAV parts onto the Dokdo ship on November 4, it underwent assembly and test driving for a week, and completed preparations for the combat testing.

◦ On the day of the combat test, the drone (prototype) was moved from the Dokdo ship’s aircraft hangar to the flight deck using the aircraft elevator. The drone took off after gliding on the Dokdo ship’s flight deck, and then performed a mock landing maneuver by passing close to the Dokdo ship, simulating a landing on the ship.

◦ The drone (prototype) maintained communication with the Dokdo ship and the Naval Aviation Command for about an hour and flew over the East Sea. Afterwards, control of the drone was transferred from the Dokdo ship to the Naval Aviation Command, and the drone safely landed on the runway of the Pohang Naval Aviation Command. * Operation and flight of drones (prototypes) are conducted by the manufacturer.

◦ Brigadier General Kim Byeong-jae, head of the Naval Power Analysis Test and Evaluation Division, who led this combat experiment, said, “The utility of drones has been verified in recent wars and combat cases, and the Navy is also developing the concept of drone operation in order to establish a solid military readiness posture at sea.” He added, “Through this combat experiment, we will derive the ship shape and required technology optimized for fixed-wing drone operation, and develop the derived results to devote ourselves to building an advanced science and technology force centered on AI-based unmanned combat systems.”

◦ Meanwhile, the Navy is accelerating the establishment of a maritime manned and unmanned composite combat system in various areas such as sea, underwater, and air to establish a solid military readiness posture in the midst of a grave security situation, and in particular, plans to continuously develop the concept of drone operation on ships to strengthen maritime operational capabilities through cooperative operations with manned maritime patrol aircraft.

[Reference] UAV (Combat Test Prototype) Shape and Specifications
Category Specifications
Size 16 × 9 × 3 m
Maximum/Cruising Speed ​​140 / 120 kts
Maximum Altitude 10,000 ft
Control Range 75 NM (C-band/LOS)
Cruising Time 3.5 hours
Takeoff Distance 70 ~ 90 m
No Armament

* UAV under development by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., USA
Mojave Prototype