South Korea is charting a bold new course in naval strategy with the unveiling of its groundbreaking HCX-23 Plus drone carrier concept at the recent MADEX 2025 International Maritime Defense Exhibition. This innovative design represents a significant departure from traditional aircraft carriers, focusing exclusively on integrating a diverse fleet of unmanned systems across all domains: air, surface, and subsurface.
Unlike hybrid carriers that adapt existing designs for drone operations, the HCX-23 Plus is purpose-built from the ground up for autonomous warfare. Despite a relatively compact displacement of 15,000 tons, its optimized layout promises to host a formidable drone fleet. Key to its design is a full-stealth hull with inward-sloping surfaces to drastically minimize radar visibility, enhancing its survivability in contested environments. Notably, the absence of a traditional island superstructure further reduces its radar signature while maximizing space on its double-deck flight surface.
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The carrier features a unique double-deck layout that separates landing and take-off operations for drones. The upper deck facilitates landings, while a lower, enclosed hangar includes a short-range catapult for launching jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Crucially, a large tail hatch and internal dock enable the seamless launch and recovery of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), transforming it into a true multi-domain unmanned combat system.
This concept signifies South Korea’s strategic pivot away from its earlier ambitions for large, conventional aircraft carriers, like the cancelled CVX program. Instead, Seoul is embracing a future naval force where unmanned systems extend sensor reach, striking power, and undersea awareness without placing human operators at risk. This aligns with the Republic of Korea Navy’s “Navy Sea GHOST” (Genuine High-tech Operative Ship Team) doctrine, which envisions fully integrated unmanned fleets.
The HCX-23 Plus positions South Korea at the forefront of naval innovation, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to maritime power projection. As nations increasingly explore the potential of autonomous systems, this drone carrier concept offers a compelling vision for leaner, stealthier, and highly adaptable naval operations in the 21st century.