“Ghost Commander II”: The Aircraft Carrier of the Future Unveiled by Hanwha Ocean at MADEX 2025
During MADEX 2025 , a naval defense exhibition held in Busan, South Korea, from May 28 to 31, 2025, Hanwha Ocean unveiled Ghost Commander II , an innovative aircraft carrier concept designed for manned and unmanned air operations. It is the first hybrid aircraft and drone carrier ever designed.
This project, unveiled at the event, marks a significant step forward in naval innovation, combining traditional aircraft carrier architecture with cutting-edge autonomous systems. Ghost Commander II redefines maritime power projection, integrating synergies between manned and unmanned aircraft.
Ghost Commander II Key Features
Ghost Commander II is a new generation command and control platform, approximately 240 meters long and with an estimated displacement of 42,000 tons, slightly larger than the Italian Trieste, which displaces 38,000 tons. It is equipped with a flight deck with an electromagnetic catapult, three arresting cables and a secondary launch system. It has six helicopter pads for vertical take-off and landing operations, supported by two elevators that connect the flight deck to a versatile internal hangar, capable of hosting both rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Korea's new generation aircraft carrier
Unlike traditional aircraft carriers, Ghost Commander II integrates vertical launch systems (VLS) for missiles, reflecting an approach towards autonomous, combat-ready platforms that combine air, surface and underwater capabilities. This is a concept more similar to the Russian one than to Western ones, especially the US, where it is assumed that the aircraft carrier is part of a naval group that takes care of its defense and conventional strike capabilities.
The hangar is optimized to accommodate not only aircraft, but also unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, supporting missions ranging from intelligence gathering and surveillance to strike and electronic warfare operations. This multipurpose design allows the ship to serve as a floating headquarters for distributed fleet operations.
Innovation and strategic context
The design reflects collaboration with the new doctrines of the Republic of Korea Navy, especially in light of the delays of the CVX program for a light aircraft carrier intended to host STOVL aircraft such as the F-35B. The Ghost Commander II stands out for its modularity, integration of unmanned systems and advanced sensors, offering a more flexible alternative. Although still in the design phase, the platform emphasizes the importance of interoperability, multi-domain awareness and reduction of personnel risk through the widespread use of autonomous systems.
The concept of CVX, the South Korean light aircraft carrier
Among the unmanned assets planned is the MQ-1C Gray Eagle STOL , a short take-off and landing drone already tested on South Korean ships. Hanwha Ocean is evaluating additional UAV options, with plans to adapt the flight deck and hangar for future options, underscoring the evolutionary and future-ready nature of the project.
MQ-1C
Defense capacity
For area protection and defense, Ghost Commander II is equipped with advanced systems. The Close In Air Defense System ( CIWS-2 ), developed by LIG Nex1 , is positioned at three strategic points (upper starboard side, stern and port midsection) for 360-degree coverage against threats such as missiles, drones and fast boats. In addition, two vertical launch systems, each with 16 surface-to-air missiles (for a total of 32 interceptors), strengthen the long-range air defense capability.
A hybrid air group
The operational heart of the carrier is its hybrid air group, composed of manned and unmanned aircraft. It includes Korean Air's LOWUS , a stealth UAV optimized for formation and low-radar visibility flights, and the Gray Eagle-STOL, developed by Hanwha Aerospace and General Atomics, ideal for naval surveillance and strike operations. The ship can also accommodate helicopters for maritime and amphibious assault operations, making it a versatile force multiplier for both conventional and asymmetric scenarios.
LOWIS, Korean Air's low-visibility drone
Strategic Perspectives
Ghost Commander II is not just a ship, it is a strategic revolution . Future naval battles will be defined by the ability to coordinate real-time data, deploy large-scale autonomous systems, and maintain a persistent presence in contested areas without exposing crews to high risks.
With its flexibility, resilience and scalability, this aircraft carrier positions South Korea at the forefront of the global maritime defense transformation, as nations increasingly invest in multi-domain platforms to address complex electronic warfare environments.
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The article “Ghost Commander II”: The aircraft carrier of the future unveiled by Hanwha ocean at MADEX 2025 comes from Scenari Economici .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/ghost-commander-ii-la-portaerei-del-futuro-svelata-da-hanwha-ocean-al-madex-2025/ on Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:13:21 +0000.