Latest news with #HanwhaOcean
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hanwha teams up with Canadian industry to advance submarine project bid
Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean said Friday it has partnered with leading Canadian security and defense firms to strengthen its bid for a Canadian submarine project with an estimated value of up to 60 billion Canadian dollars ($43.4 billion). Alongside its parent company, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean signed agreements with cybersecurity provider BlackBerry and marine defense systems developer L3Harris MAPPS during Canada's Global Defence & Security Trade Show, known as CANSEC 2025. The two-day event, Canada's largest defense industry gathering, began Wednesday and featured Hanwha as the only participating Korean defense company. The agreements were signed in the presence of Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, who oversees global operations for Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Ocean, along with Phil Kurtz, chief legal officer of BlackBerry, and Rich Foster, vice president of L3Harris Technologies Canada. 'We see significant opportunities for synergies between Hanwha Ocean and these Canadian partners -- BlackBerry and L3Harris,' said CEO Coulter. 'With the signing of these MOUs, Hanwha can begin developing strategic relationships with these partners, which will also enhance and strengthen the relationship between Canada and South Korea.' Hanwha expects the partnerships will tighten its alignment with Canadian industry and provide an opportunity to leverage its partners' long-standing experience with the Canadian Navy, in particular giving new momentum to its bid for Canada's submarine procurement plan, which includes up to 12 vessels. Hanwha Ocean, with extensive submarine manufacturing experience, is collaborating with another Korean shipbuilding giant, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, to propose advanced KSS-III-class submarines, designed and built using domestic Korean technology.
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
In South Korea, Desperate Workers Take Their Grievances Into the Sky
At the top of a slender 98-foot-tall traffic camera tower in central Seoul, Kim Hyoung-su is living under a tarpaulin shelter. It is so small he can't stretch fully when he sleeps. But Mr. Kim has been up there for 77 days, protesting one of the biggest economic problems in South Korea — labor inequality. It's an issue that is sharply dividing candidates campaigning for the presidential election next Tuesday. 'I feel like an animal in a cage, eating, sleeping and relieving myself in the same place,' Mr. Kim said from his midair protest site. 'But I will persist if this is what it takes to let society know the reality workers like me face.' Mr. Kim, 52, is one of thousands of subcontracted workers at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard, one of the largest in an industry that is a pillar of South Korea's economy. Workers like him commute by the same bus, wear the same uniform, eat at the same factory mess hall and work on the same ship as those hired directly by Hanwha at the shipyard, located on the south coast. But they are paid only half of what the others earn, Mr. Kim said. Mr. Kim climbed the tower in front of the Hanwha headquarters in Seoul on March 14 to protest the 'discrimination I couldn't stand anymore.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Hanwha, HD Hyundai set for showdown at MADEX 2025
Shipbuiding rivals zero in on global maritime defense industry with cutting-edge solutions Hanwha and HD Hyundai -- Korea's leading shipbuilders -- are going all out at the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition -- MADEX -- 2025 in Busan this week as they both seek to showcase their state-of-the-art maritime defense technologies and solutions with eyes set on wooing global clients. This year's MADEX, a four-day trade show set to begin at Bexco convention center on Wednesday, is expected to gather 150 companies from 12 countries as well as representatives from naval forces of 30 nations and some 15,000 buyers in the defense industry. Hanwha's three defense affiliates -- Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems -- will establish the conglomerate's joint exhibition booth together for the first time at the biannual event. Hanwha plans to highlight how the three companies' latest technologies can create and offer future total maritime solutions with Hanwha Ocean boasting top notch surface vessels and submarines, Hanwha Systems' uncrewed combat management system and Hanwha Aerospace's lithium-ion energy storage systems that can boost the operational capabilities of a submarine. Hanwha Ocean will display miniatures of two uncrewed warships, three surface vessels and three submarines, including the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer. The shipbuilder will unveil a combat uncrewed surface vessel for the first time. 'We will present our technologies and future vision based on the synergy between Hanwha's three defense companies at the MADEX 2025,' said a Hanwha official. 'Through Hanwha's capabilities that cover not only the world's top shipbuilding skills but also command and control systems, we will expand strategic cooperation with domestic and overseas customers even further.' HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will join hands with LIG Nex1 to set up an exhibition booth that embodies the shape of a next-generation stealth warship. HD HHI will operate three themes for the exhibition: domestic, export and future warships. For the export-warship-themed section, HD HHI will premiere a high-performance 6,500-tonne-class frigate developed to secure competitiveness in the global market in the future. The shipbuilder will underscore its advanced technologies by displaying a series of uncrewed vessels. HD HHI will focus on strengthening its global competitiveness as it is expected to sign memorandums of understanding with Italian multinational defense firm Leonardo and French multinational defense company Thales to cooperate in developing export-bound warships. According to HD HHI, it will sign an MOU with the Portuguese Navy to co-develop small submarines on Thursday to seek a new market. HD HHI also plans to bolster network with participating countries' defense industry officials and naval forces. 'At a time when the attention around Korea's maritime defense industry is larger than ever, the MADEX 2025 will be a stage where HD Hyundai Heavy Industries proves its unmatched warship technologies said Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' special ship business unit. 'HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will continue to pursue the value of openness, convergence and expansion so that Korea's maritime defense industry can coexist and develop in the global market.'
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hanwha to showcase submarine, artillery systems at CANSEC 2025 in Canada
South Korea's Hanwha Group said Friday it will participate in CANSEC 2025, Canada's largest defense trade show, to showcase a comprehensive suite of advanced defense solutions aimed at strengthening Canada's sovereign capabilities. At the two-day exhibition to open in Ottawa on Wednesday, Hanwha plans to showcase its cutting-edge land and maritime systems, including the KSS-III submarine and the K9 self-propelled howitzer, as part of efforts to support Canada's defense modernization initiatives. As part of its bid for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, Hanwha Ocean has proposed the KSS-III submarine, equipped with both lithium-ion batteries and an air-independent propulsion system. The KSS-III can remain submerged for over three weeks and has an estimated range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. If the contract is awarded in 2026, Hanwha aims to deliver the first batch of submarines by 2032 and the remainder by 2035. The company also plans to establish a local In-Service Support center in Canada, providing long-term maintenance and upgrades. Hanwha Aerospace will also highlight its K9 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzer, currently in service in 10 countries. The system, which offers a 40-kilometer range and a maximum firing rate of eight rounds per minute, is being proposed for Canada's Indirect Fires Modernization program. "Hanwha is deeply committed to Canada's defense, offering global-leading technology with local production and support," said Michael Coulter, chief executive officer of Hanwha Global Defence. "Our 'Made with Canada, For Canada' approach is designed to generate jobs, enhance defense readiness and reinforce long-term strategic cooperation between the two countries." (Yonhap)
DW
22-05-2025
- Business
- DW
Southeast Asia taps Germany's defense industry – DW – 05/22/2025
As countries in Southeast Asia look beyond the US and Russia for security partners, Germany is stepping up its defense diplomacy — signing deals, deploying warships and joining regional forums. Germany and the Philippines this month agreed to enhance defense ties and boost joint activities, including rearmament, as several Southeast Asian states increasingly look to Europe to diversify their security arrangements away from traditional partners like the US and Russia. The new deal will expand cooperation to include cybersecurity, armaments, logistics and peacekeeping duties. The "arrangement concerning defense cooperation" was signed in Berlin by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The Philippines, a US treaty ally, has secured a slew of new defense deals over the past 12 months, including an agreement with New Zealand last month. It expects to sign a similar defense deal with Canada this year. In December, Manila signed a reciprocal access agreement with Japan. It will soon begin negotiations with France for a visiting forces agreement, which will allow French troops to be stationed at Philippine bases, similar to the agreement the Philippines has with the US. The Philippines and several other Southeast Asian states have accused Chinese vessels of taking "agressive actions" towards them over disputed territory in the South China Sea. At the same time as there are growing doubts about the US security guarantees under the Trump administration. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Beijing's claims had no legal basis after the Philippines initiated proceedings. China rejects that decision. Germany's Pistorius pledges cooperation with Manila To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In 2024, Germany deployed two warships to the Indo-Pacific region, demonstrating Berlin's commitment to freedom of navigation operations. In February, Germany and Turkey were accepted as observer countries in the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting (ADMM), the Southeast Asian bloc's main defense forum. In addition to defense agreements, Southeast Asian states are also seeking to diversify the countries from which they purchase weapons, which has led to European countries scrambling for contracts. Last year, the Philippines approved a $35 billion program to upgrade its military forces, including plans to purchase submarines for the first time. So far, tenders have been submitted by South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, France's Naval Group, Spain's Navantia, and a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Earlier this month, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, a leading German naval shipbuilder, signed a new contract with Singapore for the construction of two additional Type 218SG submarines. Southeast Asia shops for weapons In 2024, Germany supplied four EC-145 light helicopters and four 11001-15000 ship engines to Indonesia. The same year, it sold IRIS-T long-range air-to-air missiles to Thailand. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, Germany approved arms sales to Singapore worth €1.2 billion last year. Other Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, are also considering purchases of European weaponry, mostly from France. Germany, Philippines agree on military cooperation To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Vietnam on May 25 for a tour of Southeast Asia, which will also include stops in Indonesia and Singapore, where he will deliver a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security summit. Earlier this month, Indonesian troops arrived in Italy to train on two 6,000-ton advanced frigates, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered to the Southeast Asian state in June. "Multi-alignment is on the rise these days as it responds well to the fluid and volatile nature of current world politics," Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, told DW. "For Southeast Asian countries facing the US-China rivalry, European powers like Germany, France and the UK provide a good alternative," he added. "If Europeans rise to the challenges facing their unique situation regarding their relations with Russia and the US, they can be a meaningful arms supplier for Southeast Asia." Ian Storey, a senior fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, told DW that European countries are "well-placed" to increase their defense sales to the region, especially as Russia's arms exports have collapsed. Russian arms exports have dropped by 64% since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Vietnam, which accounted for nearly all of Southeast Asia's imports of Russian arms, has actively sought alternative suppliers since 2022 due to the impact of Western sanctions on Russian exports. Germany's capacity problem However, Storey said, European armaments companies will face "stiff competition" from traditional suppliers such as the US and new players like South Korea and Turkey. "South Korea, in particular, is on a roll in Southeast Asia," he added. In 2023, South Korea became one of the world's Top 10 arms exporters, and its government aims to make it the fourth-largest arms exporter by 2027. A bigger problem is Germany's supply, not global demand, Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, told DW. Given the Russian threat to the continent, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the Trump administration's lackluster commitment to European security, "I simply cannot imagine Germany's defense industrial base becoming any more than a niche player in the Southeast Asian arms market," Abuza said. H&K machine guns and other small arms may be an exception, he added, but Germany's defense industries "have an enormous void to fill in Europe. I do not see any excess capacity," he added. Chancellor Merz vows to build strongest army in Europe To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Keith Walker
