Hanwha Ocean said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Leidos’ Gibbs & Cox on April 21 local time at SAS 2026 (Sea-Air-Space 2026) in Maryland. The company announced the agreement on April 22.
Under the MOU, the two sides agreed to work on: designs tailored to U.S. Navy specifications; joint development of next-generation vessels; building a supply chain using production bases in the United States and South Korea; and advancing ship designs aimed at efficient production and long-term maintenance.
Hanwha Ocean said the agreement creates a practical joint front with Gibbs & Cox to strengthen competitiveness in U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs and in global naval vessel projects.
Gibbs & Cox, a key Leidos affiliate, has a leading position in naval design and has designed more than 70% of U.S. Navy surface combatants since World War II, Hanwha Ocean said. The company said Gibbs & Cox is regarded as a top partner because it understands and implements U.S. Navy operational requirements and technical specifications.
Hanwha Ocean said it aims to build a success story in the United States that surpasses the example of Italy’s Fincantieri establishing itself in the market.
Gibbs & Cox is known to have played a key role as a partner when Fincantieri entered the U.S. naval ship market. Hanwha Ocean said Fincantieri successfully settled into the market through cooperation with Gibbs & Cox while carrying out the Constellation-class frigate and Freedom-class littoral combat ship programs.
Eo Seong-cheol, head of Hanwha Ocean’s special ship business division, said the agreement would help the company secure a firm technological advantage not only in the U.S. market but also worldwide.
“Through cooperation with Leidos, a leading U.S. defense company, we will accelerate our entry into the global maritime defense market and deliver visible results,” Eo said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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