K-Defense Pioneer HJ Heavy Industries Collaborates with Hanwha Systems for Full-Scale Overseas Market Entry

HJ Heavy Industries (CEO Yu Sang-cheol) and Hanwha Systems have agreed to mutually collaborate to enter the overseas naval vessel market and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for business cooperation between the two companies on the 31st.

HJ Heavy Industries and Hanwha Systems are signing an MOU on October 31.

원본보기 아이콘

Through this MOU, the two companies will jointly promote the export of overseas naval vessels and related equipment. HJ Heavy Industries will provide technology for the overall construction of the vessels covered by the MOU, while Hanwha Systems will supply advanced core equipment for the vessels such as combat systems and radar.

The vessels to be constructed by HJ Heavy Industries include the Navy’s Chamsuri-class patrol boat (PKMR), Yoon Young-ha-class fast combat ship (PKG), and the Coast Guard’s Haewoori-class (300t), Taeguk-class (500t), Hangang-class (1000t), Jemin-class (1500t), and Taepyeongyang-class (3000t) patrol ships.

HJ Heavy Industries expects to re-enter the overseas market through this MOU. Designated as the first domestic defense industry company in the naval vessel sector in 1974, HJ Heavy Industries was the first Korean company to export naval vessels by delivering four missile patrol boats (PSK, Patrol Ship Killer) to Indonesia in 1979.

Since then, it has exported over 30 special-purpose vessels including various patrol boats and military support ships to countries such as Indonesia, India, Thailand, the Middle East, and Latin America, gaining recognition for its naval vessel technology overseas. In particular, in the small and medium-sized vessel sector, it holds a unique competitive edge, having secured and constructed all new fast patrol boats ordered by the Korean Navy.

Last year, foreign government officials visited HJ Heavy Industries’ Yeongdo Shipyard, the only domestic shipyard possessing air-cushion fast landing craft construction technology, to promote their own air-cushion vehicle projects.

Recently, HJ Heavy Industries reaffirmed its status as a defense specialist capable of performing all projects throughout the lifecycle of naval vessels?from design and construction to performance upgrades and military support facilities?by securing contracts for the Navy’s Dokdo-class performance upgrade project, joint coastal landing logistics support system, and the Coast Guard’s 3,000-ton patrol ship.

An HJ Heavy Industries official stated, “To expand overseas naval vessel exports, we will maximize synergy through mutual cooperation with Hanwha Systems, which has strengths in combat systems and radar fields. Based on our experience and technological capabilities as the first domestic naval vessel export shipyard, we will advance K-defense’s entry into overseas markets.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.