# Hanwha

South Korea Bets on Drone Carriers to Extend Naval Reach — 42,000‑ton Concept Joins 15,000 and 32,000 Designs

South Korea showcased concepts for large unmanned aircraft carriers — notably a 42,000‑tonne design — and plans to retrofit its Dokdo and Marado amphibious ships for UAV operations. The move signals a strategic shift toward unmanned naval aviation that could expand Seoul’s expeditionary reach and create new industrial opportunities, even as technical, budgetary and geopolitical challenges persist.