Seoul: South Korea's Navy will seek to acquire a 30,000-ton-class manned-unmanned teaming carrier by the late 2030s to enhance the survivability and strike capabilities of its forces, officials said Thursday. The Navy reported the plan to the parliamentary National Defense Committee during its audit session, saying the envisioned carrier will be equipped with various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including combat, surveillance, attack, and suicide UAVs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the deployment of such unmanned assets is expected to improve the Navy's surveillance and target acquisition capabilities, thereby increasing overall survivability and strike power compared with manned aircraft. The carrier, once deployed, is also expected to carry amphibious assault and attack helicopters.
The Navy plans to operate the new carrier alongside the amphibious assault ships ROKS Dokdo and ROKS Marado as the flagships for its three maneuver units, according to officials.