Hanwha Ocean teams with Microsoft, Google on AI warships

· UPI

May 20 (Asia Today) -- Hanwha Ocean is accelerating development of artificial intelligence-based naval technologies as the company expands beyond conventional warship construction into integrated smart maritime defense platforms.

The company held its fourth Next-Generation Smart Naval Vessel Technology Forum in central Seoul on Monday, bringing together military officials, academics and defense industry experts to discuss AI-based naval systems and future maritime defense strategies.

More than 120 participants attended the event, including Shim Seung-bae, chair of the defense and security division under South Korea's presidential National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee.

The forum focused on how to build future naval systems centered on AI technologies rather than simply advancing shipbuilding techniques.

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Industry officials said the participation of experts from Microsoft, Google Cloud, Seoul National University and Hanwha Systems reflected Hanwha Ocean's broader push toward digital transformation in naval defense.

Defense analysts increasingly view AI-based combat systems, autonomous operations and data integration capabilities as the next major competitive edge in the global defense market. The shift has accelerated since the war in Ukraine highlighted the growing importance of unmanned systems and AI-supported battlefield operations.

Industry experts said naval vessels are evolving into "moving data platforms" rather than remaining conventional steel-based combat ships.

"Hanwha Ocean has pursued the belief that warships must evolve beyond simple steel structures into massive organic systems powered by advanced technology," said Eo Sung-cheol, head of the company's special ship division. "We will continue research and development efforts so our naval platforms can become strategic assets leading the global maritime defense paradigm."

The forum included discussions on AI-based innovations in ship design, operation and maintenance.

Kim Han-gyeol, a Microsoft executive, introduced AI-driven maintenance, repair and overhaul strategies for smart naval vessels and said a key challenge would be determining how AI systems can be trusted, controlled and monetized. He added that AI agent-based systems could become a future standard across defense and manufacturing infrastructure.

Park Nam-ok, head of Google Cloud Korea, discussed concepts including "Physical AI," in which AI systems interact directly with ship operations, and "Sovereign AI," referring to national control over critical data infrastructure and security systems.

Noh Myung-il, a professor of naval architecture and ocean engineering at Seoul National University, said AI-based design and simulation technologies are reshaping shipbuilding itself.

"To strengthen naval design competitiveness, the industry must actively adopt AI-based technologies instead of remaining tied to traditional methods," Noh said, emphasizing cooperation between industry, academia and research institutes.

Hanwha Systems also unveiled concepts for AI-based smart combat ships designed to reduce manpower requirements through unmanned automation technologies, addressing military personnel shortages linked to South Korea's declining birthrate.

Industry observers said Hanwha Ocean is moving aggressively to secure future naval technology capabilities as it pursues acquisition of a shipyard in Philadelphia and expands into the U.S. Navy maintenance, repair and overhaul market.

The company previously unveiled a "next-generation strategic surface vessel" concept in October. The platform was designed as an export-oriented naval system capable of operating across maritime, aerial, space and cyber warfare domains.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260520010005731