New 20-ton twin-sonar drone will hunt submarines in open seas

South Korea’s defense technology firm SonarTech has unveiled the ASW-USV, a pioneering 20-ton twin-sonar unmanned surface vessel designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures. Supported by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the 5.8-meter-long, 2-ton-class drone features a non-magnetic, fiber-reinforced polymer hull with a wave-piercing design that reduces fuel consumption and acoustic signature, enabling up to 150 hours of endurance. Powered by a hybrid electric motor and diesel generator, it can reach speeds of 14 knots. The ASW-USV is equipped with two advanced sonar systems: a Long-Range Active Sonar capable of detecting targets up to 30 kilometers away and submerging sensors to 240 meters depth, and a Side-Scan Sonar housed in an underwater gondola for detailed target classification at depths of 150 meters with lateral coverage of 600 meters. Its unique integration of