South Korea's Submarine Capabilities Enhanced by Babcock's Remora Vehicle Submarine Integration System Unveiled at YIDEX 2024

Babcock's Remora Vehicle Submarine Integration System unveiled at YIDEX 2024 promises to revolutionize Korean submarine capabilities with seamless AUV handling and operational flexibility.

The Yi Sun-shin Defense Industry Exhibition (YIDEX) 2024 showcased a pivotal moment for South Korea's defense landscape, as it transitioned from a domestic affair to an international stage. With participation from over 60 domestic and 10 international defense companies, including industry giants like Hanwha and Babcock, the event marked the largest gathering in its history.

Amidst this global interest, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy faces unique challenges, particularly in recruiting new sailors due to declining birth rates. To address this, the Navy is accelerating its adoption of unmanned systems under the Navy Sea GHOST concept, not only to bolster manpower but also to enhance its overall capabilities.

At the recent exhibition, Babcock Korea, known for its contributions to the ROK Navy's KSS-III program, unveiled the innovative Remora Vehicle Submarine Integration System. Designed to augment Korean submarines, this system facilitates the seamless handling of extra-large Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), enhancing operational flexibility.

Inspired by the marine creature known as the suckerfish or Remora, which attaches itself to larger marine animals, the Remora system can be mounted on existing submarines without compromising their performance. It offers multiple installation options to minimize interference with other submarine systems and ensures flexibility in AUV operations.

Key features of the Remora system include a low-profile shape for stealthy deployment and retrieval, an umbilical connection for rapid charging and data transfer during docking, and the ability to deploy and retrieve AUVs without interrupting the mother ship's maneuvers. Moreover, it facilitates dry transfer of divers and seals to the AUV, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Babcock highlighted the benefits of operating large-scale, submarine-deployable AUVs, which can be globally deployed from shipping containers or large cargo planes like the C-17 through air drops, while transporting crews and payloads. Although initially developed for the Royal Navy, the Remora system's flexibility and compatibility make it suitable for integration with various AUVs, including those planned for use by the ROK Navy.

In essence, the Remora Vehicle Submarine Integration System represents a significant leap forward in enhancing Korean submarine capabilities, offering unparalleled flexibility, stealth, and operational efficiency. As the ROK Navy embraces unmanned systems to address evolving challenges, collaborations with innovative partners like Babcock are poised to reshape the future of maritime defense.