The Sea Sword USV during demonstration. Photo c/o Kim Sang Yeon @ Instagram.

During the Changwon Marine Defense Exhibition 2019, South Korean’s LIG Nex1 demonstrated their prototype unmanned surface vessel (USV) called the Hae Gum (Sea Sword), which was designed to conduct maritime surveillance and reconnaissance in high-risk or hostile environments.





It uses a monohull design made of fibre-reinforced plastic, and has a length of 8 meters and weighs around 3 tons, can operate at conditions of up to Sea Stage 4, and is propelled by a diesel engine combined with a waterjet propulsion system allowing it to reach speeds of up to 40 knots.





LIG Nex1 claims that the Sea Sword can a maximum operational endurance of up to 8 hours at 15 knots, and a control radius of up to 12 kilometres.





The Sea Sword USV has an locally-developed autonomous navigation system with automatic collision avoidance system that allows it to be pre-programmed to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions while being able to evade maritime obstacles.





The USV can be equipped with an day-night capable electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system, a surface radar capable of detection range of up to 5 kilometers, communications modules, and a modular electronic architecture to allow support of mission payloads, including weapons like a remote weapon station for a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or the LIG Nex1 Hyeongung (Raybolt) anti-tank missile.







