LIG D&A demonstrates AI-based C2 system for naval operations

LIG D&A's Haegum-3 unmanned surface vehicle. (LIG D&A )

LIG Defense & Aerospace (formerly LIG Nex1) has demonstrated an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled command and control (C2) system for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in collaboration with Florida-based Palantir Technologies.

The demonstration – observed by officials from the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces and the Korea Coast Guard – involved the control of a swarm comprising different types of USVs, LIG D&A said on 1 June.

The company said its AI-based C2 system fuses data collected from multiple domains including maritime, aerial, and satellite assets in real-time to generate a high-precision operational map, which recommends tactical plans to commanders for faster decision making.

This C2 system was used to control four LIG D&A USVs including a Haegum-3, a Haegum-5, and two new Haegum-S USVs, the company added.

According to Janes Unmanned Maritime Vehicles, Haegum-3 is 12 m long with a 3.5 m beam, a displacement of 11 tonnes, and a top speed of 35 kt. Haegum-5 is 8 m long with a 2.3 m beam, a displacement of 3.2 tonnes, and a top speed of 40 kt. Both USVs can be equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and a 70 mm guided rocket launcher.

LIG D&A said Haegum-S was unveiled during the demonstration. According to the company, it is a small multi-purpose USV built using additive manufacturing technologies.

A “hybrid simulation environment” was created for the demonstration linking the Haegum USVs to simulators in real time via satellite communications, LIG D&A said. It added that the USVs engaged with simulated multi-domain threats such as destroyers, torpedoes, sonobuoys, and loitering munitions, to demonstrate their capabilities to support anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).