HD Hyundai Heavy Industries unveiled the new HCX-23 Plus drone carrier concept design at MADEX 2025.
At MADEX 2025, HD HHI organized its booth into three sections—Export, Domestic, and Future—to effectively showcase its current progress and future vision for naval capabilities. In the Future section, the company unveiled two concept designs representing its vision for the next generation of drone carriers.
HCX-23 & HCX-23 Plus
The HCX-23 presented in the Future section, is a concept designed primarily for unmanned force operations. Previously unveiled as a concept at MADEX 2023, is now presented alongside the newly revealed drone mothership HCX-23 Plus, both representing HD Hyundai’s vision for future unmanned asset platforms.
The HCX-23 is a 6,000-ton concept design for an AI-based manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) combat command vessel, it is 130-meters long 35-meters wide. HD HHI previously conducted a related research project in 2022 focused on the development of an unmanned force command and control vessel. Designed to lead a network of unmanned systems including UAVs, USVs, and UUVs, the HCX-23 features a low-RCS design for stealth,VLS for precision strikes, and is equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems such as multi-function radar (MFR) and a laser weapon system.
HD Hyundai has continuously proposed research projects and refined in-house designs related to the Republic of Korea’s light aircraft carrier program, the CVX, through past exhibitions such as MADEX 2019, 2021, and 2023. Recently news regarding shift of the long-aspired CVX program toward an unmanned mothership concept to address the challenges of population decline and a shrinking manpower pool was released. In response, at MADEX 2025 HD HHI unveiled the HCX-23 Plus, a 15,000-ton future unmanned mothership concept separate from the previous designs of CVX program. It is 200-meters long, 35-meters wide.
The HCX-23 Plus features a dual-deck configuration, with a lower forward deck equipped with a small-scale catapult system and an upper deck designed for fixed-wing UAV recovery. Positioned as an evolutionary step toward the development of a future aircraft carrier, the vessel incorporates advanced technologies optimized for unmanned operations despite its relatively low tonnage. Notably, the design integrates technologies previously seen in HD Hyundai’s CVX concepts—such as a compact catapult system developed under a national R&D initiative, arresting wires for assisted landing, and a sloped runway to support wave-off and re-attempts during UAV recovery. Additionally, although the vessel is a 15,000-ton-class ship capable of operating various unmanned assets, it has been designed with the intention of being operated by a small crew of around 100 personnel.
In the case of the HCX-23 Plus drone carrier, it is designed not only to operate fixed-wing UAVs, but also unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) via well deck located on both sides and at the stern. For defense, the ship is equipped with three CIWS-II systems located at the bow and stern for close-in protection. While it lacks a vertical launch system (VLS), it features canister launchers capable of deploying small interceptor drones.
According to HD HHI engineers, this reflects a future concept where more advanced small UAVs and loitering munitions will carry out reconnaissance as well as interception and strike missions. As for air defense, the vessel is intended to be covered by the area-defense capabilities of nearby ships, such as the HCX-23 or other escort vessels.
In addition to the newly unveiled 15,000-ton drone carrier design, HD HHI is also conducting concept design work for a 32,000-ton light carrier variant, with research and development expected to continue through the end of the year.
