HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and U.S. defense firm Anduril are positioning themselves to dominate the future naval warfare market with unmanned surface vessels. The companies anticipate a shift in naval operations as unmanned vessels take on dangerous missions traditionally performed by humans, showcasing confidence in their combined capabilities in ship design, construction, autonomous navigation, and mission execution technology.
On November 12, Shane Ehnat, Anduril's Senior Vice President, predicted a complete transformation in maritime warfare during a press conference held at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan. He emphasized, "The key is that unmanned systems will take the place of humans on the front lines," explaining, "Our vision for the future involves deploying sensors and weapons to protect personnel between enemy and friendly forces."
Choi Tae-bok, Executive Director at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, added during the briefing, "The greatest command burden in warfare is the potential loss of life. If there are no personnel on board, commanders can execute more daring operations." He also noted that unmanned surface vessels do not require crew living quarters, allowing for increased armament and fuel capacity.
On the same day, the companies launched the 600-ton ASV Alpha, a medium unmanned surface vessel, approximately one year after signing their agreement last November. HD Hyundai is responsible for ship design, construction, and vessel autonomy, while Anduril focuses on mission autonomy technology.
The ASV Alpha's core technology enables the vessel to continue operations without human presence. In addition to following a predetermined route, it can autonomously manage engines and generators and respond to malfunctions or onboard anomalies.
To achieve this, HD Hyundai developed the vessel autonomy solution VAOne, which integrates with Anduril's mission autonomy solution Lattice. VAOne handles navigation, engine operation, and damage control, while Lattice plans and assigns missions based on sensor data.
Kim Hyung-taek, Executive Director at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, explained, "Software will perform the cognitive, judgment, and response tasks previously done by humans." This means automating processes from checking engine status and fuel before departure to detecting and responding to onboard and external threats during operation. However, he clarified, "The final decision on whether to launch a missile after detecting an enemy is made by a human."
The companies also highlighted their rapid development pace as a competitive advantage. Jang Jun-ho, Senior Executive at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated, "We changed the traditional design and procurement sequence to complete the vessel in a short time." They prioritized securing available equipment and materials, allowing for concurrent design adjustments. Choi Tae-bok remarked, "The company leads the way in developing technology into products and creating markets," explaining that prototype development could accelerate the commercialization of private sector technologies.
The prototype vessel will undergo sea trials and final preparations off the coast of Ulsan before being transported to the U.S. for demonstration and testing early next year. However, vessels for the U.S. Navy will be constructed in the United States.
Approximately 70 attendees, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries President Joo Won-ho, Executive Director Lee Sang-bong, Anduril Chief Operating Officer Matt Grimm, Senior Vice President Shane Ehnat, and Anduril Korea Representative John Kim, were present at the launch ceremony held on November 12 in Ulsan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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