HD Hyundai expands partnerships to advance in the U.S. unmanned vessel market

HD Hyundai said on the 23rd that it had signed a series of MOUs in the United States with Anduril and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), among others, to expand cooperation with the country in the naval ship business. HD Hyundai is participating in the Sea-Air-Space 2026 exposition, held in Washington, D.C., for four days starting Sunday, the 19th.

On Wednesday, the 22nd, local time, HD Hyundai first signed an MOU with defense AI company Anduril to jointly develop advanced unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) systems. Building on their ongoing development of unmanned surface vessels (USVs), the companies will extend their cooperation to underwater vehicles and step up efforts to target the U.S. and other global markets.

According to Market Research Future, a global market research firm, the global unmanned underwater vehicle market is projected to grow rapidly at an annual average rate of 16.6%, from $5.5754 billion in 2025 to $25.8989 billion in 2035.

Later that same day, HD Hyundai, ABS and Anduril signed a three-party MOU to develop autonomous maritime systems and related regulatory and certification frameworks.

Under the agreement, the three companies will establish the testing and certification procedures essential to developing and commercializing unmanned vessels, and work together to develop regulations related to autonomous operations. The companies aim to strengthen their competitiveness in unmanned naval technology and enhance its credibility, positioning themselves to lead the field.

Building on this cooperation, HD Hyundai aims to lead the global unmanned naval vessel market by combining its world-leading shipbuilding expertise with AI-based autonomous systems technology.

Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and head of its naval and mid-sized vessel businesses, said, “Unmanned naval vessels are a key focus of the future global naval market, and a field in which we must take the lead. Through cooperation with Anduril, ABS and others, we will demonstrate our outstanding technology in the global unmanned naval vessel market.”