South Korea’s navy has proposed developing a 270-metre-long drone carrier to replace its stalled F-35B-centred CVX aircraft carrier programme, signalling a major shift in Seoul’s naval modernisation strategy towards unmanned aviation, maritime surveillance and networked command operations.
The revised concept envisages a large aviation platform capable of operating more than 20 unmanned systems alongside helicopters, amphibious assets and other naval capabilities. Rather than concentrating on deploying conventional fighter aircraft, the proposed carrier would serve as a command centre for coordinating manned and unmanned systems across a wider maritime battlespace.
The proposal represents a significant departure from the original CVX programme, which was designed around approximately 16 to 20 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing fighters. The new approach reflects South Korea’s growing interest in artificial intelligence, autonomous military systems and distributed maritime operations as it seeks to strengthen its naval presence beyond the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff were reviewing the revised operational requirement at the time of the latest programme assessment. A decision is expected by the end of 2026, while the proposed carrier’s operational entry has been pushed towards the early 2040s, later than the previous late-2030s target.
The Republic of Korea Navy’s revised vision places greater emphasis on maritime awareness, intelligence collection and the coordination of dispersed naval forces. Such a capability could give Seoul additional options during regional crises, particularly when disruptions to international shipping or competing strategic interests require a coordinated maritime response.
The proposed vessel is expected to measure approximately 270 metres in length and 70 metres in width, with a light displacement exceeding 30,000 tonnes. Its dimensions would make it substantially larger than South Korea’s existing Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships and provide additional space for aviation operations, unmanned systems and command facilities.
An angled flight deck is among the features identified in the preliminary concept. However, the Navy has not disclosed whether the vessel would use electromagnetic catapults, another launch arrangement or a dedicated recovery system for fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Consequently, the types of combat drones it could eventually operate and their sustained operational tempo remain uncertain.
The planned unmanned complement includes combat aircraft, reconnaissance drones, one-way attack systems and unmanned surface vessels. These platforms would perform different missions, ranging from intelligence gathering and maritime monitoring to surveillance support and offensive operations.
The numerical target of more than 20 unmanned systems, however, does not necessarily mean that all would be available for simultaneous operations. Aircraft inspections, maintenance requirements, technical failures and mission-specific configurations would determine how many systems could actually be deployed at any given time.
The original CVX programme emerged from the LPX-II project under former President Moon Jae-in. Its principal objective was to establish South Korea’s first aircraft carrier equipped with F-35B stealth fighters, giving the Navy an embarked fixed-wing combat capability alongside helicopters.
The programme was initially expected to enter service around 2033. However, its financial requirements, competition with other defence priorities and questions about the operational necessity of an aircraft carrier gradually weakened political and budgetary support.
South Korea’s proposed 2023 defence budget allocated no funding to CVX, while the government continued prioritising additional land-based F-35A fighter aircraft. Under former President Yoon Suk-yeol, the country’s three-axis deterrence system against North Korea received greater attention, strengthening the case for investments in missile defence, precision strike and surveillance capabilities.
The Navy subsequently reconsidered the carrier’s operational purpose. It presented its drone-centred direction to lawmakers in May 2025 and submitted a revised operational requirement in October that year.
The shift also reflects lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, where inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles, reconnaissance systems and loitering munitions have demonstrated their ability to influence battlefield operations. South Korean military planners are seeking to apply aspects of this technological transformation to maritime warfare.
The Navy’s Sea GHOST concept provides the broader doctrinal framework. It envisages integrating conventional warships with unmanned aerial, surface and underwater platforms to create a connected naval force capable of gathering information and coordinating operations across multiple domains.
Under this model, the proposed carrier would function as a central command node, coordinating helicopters, reconnaissance drones, combat systems and unmanned surface vessels with other ships operating across a wider area.
Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul, the Republic of Korea’s Chief of Naval Operations, has linked naval strength to national sovereignty, maritime security and economic prosperity. His emphasis on protecting sea routes reflects South Korea’s dependence on international maritime trade and the strategic consequences of disruptions to shipping.
A drone carrier capable of maintaining surveillance and coordinating dispersed naval assets could strengthen Seoul’s ability to assess regional developments independently and contribute information to allied partners.
The revised concept has also attracted interest from South Korea’s major shipbuilders, which have presented different approaches to the future unmanned aviation platform.
Hanwha Ocean’s Ghost Commander II concept envisages a vessel of approximately 42,000 tonnes, featuring electromagnetic catapults and a well deck. The design illustrates an approach combining aviation operations with amphibious capabilities.
HD Hyundai’s HCX-23 Plus concept, meanwhile, uses a smaller dual-deck arrangement, demonstrating how domestic shipbuilders have interpreted the potential requirements of a drone-centred carrier differently.
These proposals remain industrial concepts rather than confirmed specifications for the Navy’s final vessel. The government has not selected a shipbuilder or published definitive requirements covering propulsion, maximum speed, crew size, weapons, hangar capacity or the carrier’s full-load displacement.
The absence of confirmed launch and recovery arrangements is particularly significant. Operating fixed-wing unmanned combat aircraft from a large naval platform requires specialised equipment, deck procedures and maintenance infrastructure. Without these details, the carrier’s eventual aviation capabilities remain difficult to assess.
The logistics requirements could also prove substantial. Different categories of unmanned aircraft, helicopters and surface vessels require separate spare parts, maintenance procedures, software support and specialist personnel.
Although replacing a conventional fighter wing with unmanned systems could reduce some procurement and personnel costs, it would not eliminate the need for a substantial technical workforce. Aircraft maintenance, software updates, operator training and mission supervision would remain essential.
South Korea’s demographic challenges and declining working-age population provide an additional reason to explore more automated military systems. Nevertheless, the overall personnel requirements of the carrier will depend on its technical complexity and the extent to which maintenance and operational responsibilities can be transferred to shore-based facilities.
The Navy also envisages amphibious support and disaster relief missions. Transport and attack helicopters could support landing operations, while high-speed landing craft and potentially unmanned surface vessels could expand its transport and logistics functions.
A well deck remains a possibility rather than a confirmed feature. Its inclusion would influence the internal arrangement of the vessel and determine how much space could be allocated to amphibious operations rather than aviation.
Balancing these different missions will be a central design challenge. Aviation, amphibious transport, command facilities and humanitarian assistance would compete for deck space, storage capacity and embarked personnel.
The Navy is also considering adapting the existing Dokdo and Marado amphibious assault ships for unmanned aerial vehicle operations and command functions. These modifications could provide an opportunity to develop operating procedures and test the integration of unmanned systems before the proposed carrier enters service.
However, developmental trials have already illustrated some of the technical difficulties. Two loitering munitions reportedly crashed shortly after launch during a 2026 trial aboard ROKS Marado, highlighting the difference between demonstrating an unmanned system and establishing reliable shipboard operations.
The proposed drone carrier is only one component of South Korea’s broader naval expansion, which includes nuclear-powered attack submarines, next-generation destroyers and dedicated maritime intelligence vessels.
The planned Jangbogo-N nuclear-powered attack submarine programme is intended to strengthen persistent underwater surveillance and improve South Korea’s ability to monitor maritime activity around the Korean Peninsula.
The initiative envisages at least three conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, each displacing approximately 8,000 tonnes. The first vessel is targeted for launch in the mid-2030s, with operational service expected towards the end of that decade.
The submarine programme also has an important alliance dimension following the 2025 United States-South Korea summit agreement. However, questions concerning nuclear fuel arrangements, costs and technology development could influence its eventual timetable.
South Korea is simultaneously advancing its KDDX next-generation destroyer programme. The vessels are expected to incorporate indigenous combat management systems and advanced phased-array radar, providing air defence, anti-submarine warfare and surface combat capabilities.
The first KDDX destroyer is targeted for delivery in 2032, with six ships envisaged under the programme. These vessels could become important components of future carrier task groups, although the Navy has not announced a permanent escort arrangement for the proposed drone carrier.
Plans to acquire two maritime intelligence collection ships by approximately 2035 would further strengthen the country’s surveillance capabilities. Such vessels would provide dedicated signals and acoustic intelligence collection, complementing the reconnaissance functions expected from unmanned aircraft.
The Navy’s wider modernisation portfolio also includes ship-to-surface ballistic missiles and advanced SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors. These systems would strengthen South Korea’s maritime strike and missile-defence capabilities independently of the carrier programme.
The different procurement schedules are strategically important. Destroyers, intelligence ships and submarines are expected to enter service years before the proposed carrier, meaning they will have a more immediate impact on South Korea’s naval posture.
The challenge will be ensuring that these programmes develop compatible command systems, training structures and maintenance arrangements. Without effective integration, a larger fleet could face difficulties coordinating operations despite possessing increasingly advanced individual platforms.
The revised carrier proposal could gradually expand South Korea’s naval role from a force primarily focused on defending its surrounding waters into one capable of supporting wider maritime surveillance and regional crisis management.
For the United States and other regional partners, a South Korean naval force equipped with advanced unmanned systems could contribute to maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing and joint exercises.
Its potential relevance extends across the Indo-Pacific, where protecting international shipping routes and monitoring maritime developments have become increasingly important security concerns.
For North Korea, however, the more immediate implications are likely to come from South Korea’s planned submarines, destroyers and intelligence collection vessels. Their earlier service targets mean they could strengthen surveillance and deterrence capabilities well before the proposed carrier becomes operational.
China and Russia would also be monitoring the expansion of South Korea’s maritime intelligence and surveillance capabilities. Dedicated intelligence vessels and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft could improve Seoul’s ability to observe regional naval activities and contribute to a broader maritime information network.
Nevertheless, the proposed carrier’s regional influence will depend on more than its size or the number of unmanned aircraft it can accommodate. Its effectiveness will require reliable communications, resilient command networks, compatible unmanned systems and the ability to sustain operations over extended deployments.
A single large carrier would also create an availability challenge. Extended maintenance or refit periods could temporarily remove the vessel from operational service, making existing amphibious ships important to maintaining South Korea’s naval engagement.
The financial implications remain another major uncertainty. The Navy has not published a confirmed programme cost for the revised carrier. Any realistic assessment will need to account for ship construction, unmanned aircraft procurement, command systems, maintenance facilities, training and long-term operational support.
The end-2026 Joint Chiefs of Staff review is therefore a crucial milestone. Its decision will determine whether the revised operational requirement advances towards formal procurement planning, potentially opening the way for detailed design work, budget allocation and the selection of compatible embarked systems.
Even if approved, the early-2040s service target will depend on the successful development of both the vessel and its unmanned aviation components. Ship construction alone will not establish an operational capability if the aircraft, communications architecture and supporting infrastructure are not ready at the same time.
South Korea’s proposed 270-metre drone carrier represents an ambitious attempt to redefine what an aircraft carrier can contribute to modern naval warfare. By replacing the original F-35B-centred concept with a platform focused on unmanned aviation, surveillance and maritime command, Seoul is seeking a more flexible instrument of naval influence.
Whether the project ultimately delivers that ambition will depend on its ability to integrate advanced technology with sustainable fleet operations while avoiding competition with the submarines, destroyers and intelligence ships that will shape South Korea’s maritime security long before the new carrier reaches the water.
