South Korea Unveils 3D-Printed Suicide Sea Drone Inspired by Ukrainian Tactics

At the MADEX 2025 exhibition in South Korea, the Korean company LIG Nex1 showcased several advanced sea drones, including a 3D-printed suicide drone armed with infrared-guided missiles, according to Defense Express on May 29.

Among the drones displayed, LIG Nex1 introduced a reconnaissance drone, a suicide drone, and a modular combat drone. The reconnaissance drone features a towed sonar, wave sensor, navigation radar, an advanced electro-optical targeting system, and multiple satellite communication antennas. Additionally, it will be equipped with a remotely operated turret that includes a heavy machine gun.

The suicide drone, as announced by a company representative during an interview with Naval News, was inspired by the experience of using Ukrainian sea-based drones.

The Sea Sword-X modular combat drone is armed with a 20mm automatic cannon, two 70mm Poniard missile launchers, Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedoes, and space for modular payloads. A 130mm guided missile module for striking ground targets was also displayed at MADEX 2025, Defense Express reported.

With a 3D-printed body for cost-efficiency, it features a satellite antenna similar to Starlink and is equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and wide-angle cameras. The drone also carries two 70mm Poniard guided missiles with infrared homing heads, designed to target maritime vessels, especially air-cushion boats.

However, according to Defense Express, based on the guidance system, there is a possibility that the missiles could also target slow, low-flying aerial targets, such as helicopters. This echoes the effectiveness of Ukraine’s Magura sea drones, which use similar infrared-guided missiles, AIM-9 and R-73, to down both helicopters and, most recently, a Russian Su-30 fighter jet.

These new sea drones will be integrated into South Korea's Navy Sea GHOST concept, which aims to form a squadron of unmanned maritime systems in the short term. In the medium term, the plan includes creating a squadron of aerial and surface drones. By the 2040s, the Navy plans to establish a Sea Drone Command, incorporating multiple squadrons, including underwater drones, Defense Express reported.

Previously, machine tools manufactured by South Korea’s DN Solutions have been discovered at Russian facilities producing Lancet drones and Iskander missile launchers, according to a recent investigation by Ukraine’s Economic Security Council (ESCU), cited by The Korea Times on May 2.

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