Seoul: The state arms procurement agency announced that it has signed a preliminary agreement to enhance the testing of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) as the demand for such combat systems increases in modern maritime warfare.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration formalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology. The collaboration aims to establish robust testing capabilities for unmanned systems.

As part of the MOU, the agencies committed to sharing the equipment necessary for testing and evaluating USVs. They also plan to undertake joint research to develop evaluation criteria and to provide training for relevant personnel. Unmanned maritime systems have shown efficacy in recent military operations, leading to increased interest in merging private-sector technology with military applications.