HD Hyundai and Anduril Launch a 'Drone at Sea,' Taking Aim at the U.S. Navy Market

[Financial News, Ulsan = Reporter Jung Won-il]HD Hyundai has launched a 600-ton-class unmanned surface vessel jointly developed with U.S. defense company Anduril Industries. The company plans to target the U.S. market for unmanned naval vessels after conducting trials in the United States early next year.
HD Hyundai announced on the 15th that it held a launch ceremony on the 12th at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan Shipyard for Alpha, a medium-sized unmanned surface vessel jointly developed with Anduril Industries. About 70 people attended, including executives from both companies—such as Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Matt Grimm, chief operating officer of Anduril Industries; and Shane Arnott, senior vice president of Anduril Industries—as well as officials from the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Korea.
The vessel is a 600-ton-class autonomous unmanned surface vessel by lightship displacement. It was built in just one year after the two companies signed an agreement in November last year. It is seen as demonstrating the ability to respond quickly to U.S. demand for unmanned naval vessels while sharply reducing the construction time, which typically takes several years. After sea trials and finishing work off Ulsan, HD Hyundai plans to continue testing the unmanned surface vessel in the United States early next year.
A key feature of the unmanned surface vessel Alpha is that it is equipped with VAone, an integrated vessel-autonomy solution developed in-house by HD KOREA SHIPBUILDING & OFFSHORE ENGINEERING CO., LTD. (HD KSOE), and Lattice, Anduril Industries' mission-autonomy solution. VAone is a system that automates the operation of key vessel systems and responses to anomalies, and integrates autonomous navigation technology from Avikus, HD Hyundai's subsidiary specializing in autonomous ship navigation. Combined with Lattice, it enables the vessel to perform a range of missions automatically, from navigation to the operation of machinery and weapons.
HD Hyundai says the autonomy systems enable the vessel to operate for long periods without a crew and carry out a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance and maritime information gathering. Given that a crewed vessel of the same class carries about 50 crew members, the system could reduce the Navy's staffing burden and significantly improve operational efficiency.
Last month in the United States, the two companies installed their respective autonomy solutions on a test vessel operated by the U.S. Navy and confirmed that the systems could work together. The prototype is seen as a step forward because it was developed from the design stage on the premise that the two systems would be integrated.
Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, “The launch of this unmanned surface vessel can be seen as the result of combining HD Hyundai's shipbuilding capabilities with its unmanned-operation technology. We will continue to advance our technology and secure a leading position in the unmanned surface vessel market.”
Shane Arnott, senior vice president of Anduril Industries, said, “I look forward to demonstrating the vessel's performance and capabilities in U.S. waters early next year and continuing to expand the fleet with HD Hyundai.”
[email protected] Jung Won-il Reporter