Hanwha Ocean has revealed a cutting-edge surface combatant concept that represents South Korea’s vision for its next-generation strategic naval platform. Developed to serve as a flagship for the country’s defense industry, the vessel highlights Hanwha’s push toward greater autonomy, stealth, and survivability in maritime warfare.
The new design incorporates a wave-piercing hull, optimized to maintain high performance and stability even in turbulent waters. Complementing this is a tumblehome-shaped superstructure, which reduces radar reflections and enhances stealth by minimizing the ship’s radar cross-section. Together, these design elements allow the vessel to operate undetected in high-threat environments, offering a tactical advantage in both open-sea and littoral missions.
Hanwha Ocean’s concept is also centered around layered lethality, with integrated weapon systems arranged in multiple stages across the hull. These systems are designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats — including ballistic missiles, anti-ship weapons, and low-flying drones. This modular, tiered defense approach ensures that the warship can adapt to evolving naval warfare scenarios and respond to simultaneous multi-domain attacks.
By combining stealth technology, advanced sensors, and scalable weapons integration, Hanwha aims to redefine the capabilities of South Korea’s surface fleet. The concept underlines the company’s role in advancing indigenous naval engineering and strengthening Seoul’s maritime deterrence posture in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific theater.
