HD Hyundai Partners with Anduril to Develop Unmanned Vessels, Accelerates Market Expansion

Prototype to Be Unveiled by 2027
HD Hyundai to Provide Naval Vessel Design and Construction Technology

HD Hyundai is partnering with the American artificial intelligence (AI) defense company Anduril Industries to jointly develop unmanned surface vessels (USVs). This marks a full-scale collaboration aimed at expanding entry into the naval vessel markets of both South Korea and the United States.

Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril, who visited the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center, is listening to an explanation about the unmanned surface vessel being developed by HD Hyundai. From the front row left, Joo Wonho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Special Ship Business, and Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril. Photo by HD Hyundai

HD Hyundai announced on August 7 that it had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for cooperation in naval vessel development with Anduril at its Global R&D Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony, held the previous day, was attended by Joo Wonho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Special Ship Business, and Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril. This MOA builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in April, and specifies that the two companies will mutually provide their respective autonomous technologies and capabilities in vessel design and construction to collaborate on the development of unmanned vessels.

In the South Korean market, Anduril's autonomous mission system solution will be equipped on the unmanned surface vessel currently being developed by HD Hyundai. In the U.S. market, HD Hyundai will be responsible for the design and construction of both manned and unmanned vessels led by Anduril, and will also provide AI-based vessel autonomy technology. The two companies also plan to jointly develop USV prototypes for both the South Korean and U.S. markets. The prototype for the South Korean market is expected to be unveiled around 2027.

Joo Wonho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Special Ship Business, stated, "Unmanned vessels are the core and essential element of future naval warfare," and added, "Through our cooperation with Anduril, we aim to develop world-class unmanned vessels." Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril, said, "We are pleased to be able to enter the U.S. naval vessel market together with HD Hyundai," and expressed, "We look forward to a win-win partnership as strong collaborators in both South Korea and the United States."

Previously, in June, HD Hyundai signed a commercial shipbuilding partnership with the American shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO). In April, the company also entered into agreements with U.S. defense companies such as Huntington Ingalls and Fairbanks Morse Defense, further expanding its cooperation in the U.S. maritime defense sector.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.