South Korea’s Hanwha Group has partnered with U.S.-based artificial intelligence company HavocAI to jointly develop autonomous surface vessels, aiming to supply the U.S. Navy from an American shipyard as Washington accelerates investment in unmanned maritime systems.
Hanwha Defense USA, the U.S. arm of Hanwha Aerospace, said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hanwha Systems and HavocAI to co-develop a 200-foot autonomous surface vessel. The vessels are expected to be built at Hanwha’s Philly Shipyard, positioning the group among the first shipbuilders operating in the U.S. to formally integrate advanced autonomous navigation technology through a strategic partnership.
Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate on technology development, production planning and proposal submissions for U.S. government programs. Hanwha is reviewing plans to construct the vessels domestically and pursue scaled production in line with U.S. government funding and procurement requirements.
The project combines Hanwha Ocean’s naval shipbuilding expertise with Hanwha Systems’ combat management systems and platform integration capabilities, alongside HavocAI’s autonomous navigation software. The companies say the objective is to deliver deployable, mission-ready unmanned vessels rather than experimental prototypes.
Paul Lwin, chief executive of HavocAI, recently told The Wall Street Journal that the partners are targeting contracts to supply the U.S. Navy with hundreds of autonomous vessels capable of missile launches, logistics transport and surveillance missions.
HavocAI has emerged as a prominent player in the unmanned maritime sector, securing multiple contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense to deliver autonomous vessels. In October, the company raised approximately $85 million from investors including Lockheed Martin and UP Partners, strengthening its push toward commercial-scale deployment. The company has also demonstrated autonomous navigation technology capable of operating in GPS-denied environments, including tests conducted with Ukrainian officials.
Hanwha has closely monitored HavocAI’s development, participating in the recent funding round and holding multiple executive-level discussions. In October, HavocAI executives visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea, where the companies conducted a remote-control demonstration of an unmanned surface vessel stationed near Hawaii and operated from Korea.
With the formal MOU now in place, Hanwha is moving to solidify its entry into the U.S. unmanned maritime systems market, expanding its portfolio from conventional naval vessels to next-generation autonomous platforms.
Michael Coulter, chief executive of Hanwha Defense USA, said the partnership would help deliver advanced autonomous ships at scale. “By combining Hanwha’s manufacturing strength with HavocAI’s software-driven defense technology, we are well positioned to supply the U.S. military with cutting-edge autonomous vessels,” he said. “This collaboration not only supports U.S. service members but also promotes healthy competition in the Defense Department’s procurement process.”
The partnership underscores growing U.S. interest in unmanned naval platforms as the Pentagon seeks to enhance maritime capabilities while managing costs and operational risks in increasingly contested environments.
