Hanwha Defense USA and Magnet Defense partner to develop 38-meter unmanned surface vessels for U.S. military
Originally reported by en.yna.co.kr
Hanwha Defense USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with Magnet Defense at the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Maryland to co-develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs). The partnership focuses on the production of a 38-meter MUSV designed for surveillance, logistics, and combat support missions for the Pentagon. The project will integrate Magnet Defense's M48 platform with Hanwha's shipbuilding, advanced robotics, and missile systems technology. Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, and Marc Bell, CEO of Magnet Defense, confirmed the collaboration aims to combine autonomous technology with high-capacity manufacturing.
This strategic move allows Hanwha to penetrate the U.S. defense industrial base by leveraging local autonomy expertise while providing the scale required for large-scale naval production. By integrating advanced robotics and potentially additive manufacturing processes for complex maritime components, Hanwha is positioning itself to address the growing demand for unmanned maritime systems in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic theaters. The deal places Hanwha in direct competition with traditional naval contractors by offering a more agile, technology-integrated approach to unmanned platform development. This aligns with the broader defense trend of shifting toward distributed, unmanned maritime capabilities to reduce crew risk and operational costs.
For Hanwha, the immediate priority is the successful integration of its missile systems into the M48 platform to meet specific Pentagon mission profiles. The company must now demonstrate that its advanced manufacturing and robotics capabilities can scale to meet the production timelines required for U.S. Navy procurement cycles. Success in this 38-meter vessel program will serve as a critical proof of concept for Hanwha's ability to operate as a primary tier-one supplier within the United States defense ecosystem.
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