HD Hyundai has launched a 600-ton unmanned surface vessel targeting the U.S. unmanned vessel market.
On November 15, HD Hyundai announced that it held a launch ceremony for the unmanned surface vessel, developed in collaboration with U.S. defense company Anduril, at its shipyard in Ulsan.
Attending the ceremony were Ju Won-ho, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Lee Sang-bong, Executive Vice President; Matt Grimm, Chief Operating Officer of Anduril; Shane Annett, Senior Vice President of Anduril's Maritime and Maneuver Systems Division; John Kim, Anduril Korea Representative; and approximately 70 other executives and staff from both companies, along with representatives from the U.S. military and embassy.
The vessel launched is a medium-sized unmanned surface vessel (ASV) with a displacement of 600 tons, built by HD Hyundai.
Typically, ship construction takes several years, but this project was completed in just one year following the signing of the agreement in November 2025.
The unmanned surface vessel is set to undergo sea trials and final preparations off the coast of Ulsan before continuing test operations in the U.S. early next year.
This vessel, constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Anduril, is equipped with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering's self-developed total autonomy solution, VAone, and Anduril's mission autonomy solution, Lattice.
VAone automates the operation of the vessel's main systems and integrates an autonomous system for responding to anomalies, as well as an unmanned and autonomous operation system that detects and avoids safety-related anomalies. This includes a damage autonomy solution and an automated navigation solution from Ibis.
By combining Anduril's Lattice platform, the technology for autonomous unmanned surface vessels has been completed, automating navigation, system operations, damage control, and weapon operations.
The vessel is expected to meet U.S. Navy requirements for long-term operations without crew, enabling it to perform various missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and maritime information collection. Considering that approximately 50 crew members are typically required for manned vessels of similar size, this development is anticipated to significantly reduce the operational burden on naval personnel and enhance operational efficiency.
Ju Won-ho, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated, "The launch of this unmanned surface vessel is a result of combining HD Hyundai's shipbuilding capabilities with unmanned navigation technology. We will continue to advance our technology to secure a leading position in the unmanned surface vessel market."
Shane Annett, Senior Vice President of Anduril, remarked, "This vessel demonstrates what Anduril and HD Hyundai can achieve through collaboration. We look forward to validating the vessel's performance and capabilities in U.S. waters early next year and to continuously expanding our fleet with HD Hyundai."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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