At MADEX 2025, Korean LIG Nex1 showcased a new generation of powerful sea drones, including a kamikaze drone with infrared-guided missiles and a 3D-printed body inspired by Ukraine’s innovative naval warfare
During the MADEX 2025 defense exhibition in South Korea, local company LIG Nex1 presented new maritime drones of three types, namely a reconnaissance platform, a modular combat drone, and — most notably — a kamikaze drone that reflects lessons learned from Ukraine’s war experience.
First, the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) for Reconnaissance is a unit equipped with a towed sonar, wave sensor, navigation radar, an advanced electro-optical targeting system, and multiple satellite communication antennas. It also features a remote-controlled turret with a heavy machine gun.
The modular combat drone, named Sea Sword-X, is armed with a 20mm automatic cannon, two launchers for 70mm Poniard guided missiles, Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedoes, and a slot for modular payloads. One variant displayed at the exhibition featured 130mm guided missiles designed to strike land targets.
The kamikaze drone, according to a company spokesperson in an interview with Naval News, was directly inspired by Ukraine’s use of maritime suicide drones. The hull was 3D-printed to keep costs low — a key design priority.
The drone also visually and structurally resembles Ukrainian platforms, like the SeaBaby, operated by the Security Service of Ukraine.
The Korean variant’s onboard systems, meanwhile, include a satellite communication antenna similar to Starlink, an EO targeting station, and wide-angle course cameras for navigation and strike accuracy. Uniquely, this kamikaze drone carries not only an explosive warhead but also two Poniard missiles with infrared seekers.
While officially designed for engaging maritime targets, the missile’s IR guidance allows it to engage low-flying aerial threats, such as helicopters. Here, once agains, parallel can be drawn to Ukraine’s MAGURA sea drones with air-to-air missiles, which reportedly used AIM-9 and R-73 missiles to successfully shoot down both a russian helicopter and, recently, even a Su-30 fighter jet.
Overall, these new sea drones are likely part of South Korea’s ambitious “Navy Sea GHOST” concept, aimed at building a future fleet of autonomous maritime systems. In the short term, it aims to establish a dedicated squadron to develop uncrewed maritime systems. By the mid-2030s, the plan is to deploy squadrons of both aerial and surface drones.
By the 2040s, the Unmanned Naval Forces Command is expected to be formed, comprising multiple such squadrons, including subsea drones. This reflects South Korea’s decision to shift away from building a new aircraft carrier and instead focus on a fleet of naval drones — with an unmanned flagship the size of HMS Dreadnought.
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