Seoul: South Korea's top naval commander on Tuesday expressed hope for acquiring an aircraft carrier that integrates conventional manned systems with unmanned technology, as part of efforts to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into the Navy's preparation for future combat. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo made the remark during a conference on future naval systems in Seoul, stressing the importance of AI and unmanned systems in future combat.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Adm. Yang Yong-mo emphasized that AI is utilized in all areas of combat and has become a significant game changer. He noted that unmanned assets, which can be mass-produced at low cost, have effectively neutralized high-cost manned assets and are taking a leading role on the battlefield. Adm. Yang expressed the Navy's aspiration to establish a maritime combat unit based on a carrier that integrates manned and unmanned assets in the future.
Yang's remarks came after the Navy recently outlined a plan to the National Assembly to acquire a vessel capable of carrying dozens of combat drones. The Navy had previously considered acquiring a light aircraft carrier, but recently revised the plan in favor of the command vessel for unmanned systems as drones have played an increasingly important role in modern combat. While South Korea operates amphibious assault ships capable of carrying helicopters, it does not currently possess any full-fledged aircraft carriers.