Latest news with #JooWon-ho
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
HD Hyundai to design Korea's first AI-powered uncrewed naval vessel
Korea's leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai announced Tuesday that its largest shipyard, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has secured a conceptual design project from the South Korean Navy for an uncrewed surface combat vessel. Under the project, HD HHI will outline the vessel's conceptual framework, including the required performance and technologies, as well as strategies for acquiring those capabilities. The design phase is scheduled for completion by December. According to the company, the future vessel will be powered by advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to respond flexibly and effectively to diverse combat scenarios in next-generation naval operations. 'We deeply value the opportunity to lead the base design of an uncrewed surface vessel, a core element of the Navy's future capabilities,' said Joo Won-ho, head of HD HHI's special ship division. Amid South Korea's ongoing demographic decline and resulting personnel shortages, the Navy has set a goal of making uncrewed assets — including submarines and aerial units — a key part of its force structure by the 2040s. Its parent company, HD Hyundai, partnered with US-based artificial intelligence leader Palantir in 2024 for the development of uncrewed vessels, marking the beginning of its involvement in the uncrewed systems sector in earnest. Earlier in April, HD Hyundai also partnered with a US AI defense firm, Anduril Industries, to explore opportunities in the global uncrewed vessel market, as a separate initiative from the Navy project. 'HD HHI will provide a blueprint for uncrewed warships that will drive the Navy's advancement by combining human personnel and uncrewed systems,' Joo added. 'This will be achieved through our AI-powered automation, electrification and human-optional operation technologies.'
South China Morning Post
13-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US looks to South Korea as it tries to revive shipbuilding and catch up to China
The United States is looking to South Korea as it tries to boost shipbuilding capacity in response to the 'desperate reality' of China's rapid navy build-up , a move that could strengthen US power projection in the region, analysts say. Advertisement South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) on Monday said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with US firm Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). HHI said the 'ship alliance' was signed during this week's Sea Air Space 2025 defence exhibition in Washington. It said the aim was to 'maximise the production efficiency of shipbuilding, while sharing know-how and capabilities to improve shipbuilding costs and delivery times'. 'We expect that cooperation between the representative shipbuilding companies of Korea and the US, who are blood allies, will not only develop the shipbuilding industry of both countries but also greatly contribute to strengthening security cooperation,' said Joo Won-ho, chief executive of naval and special shipbuilding at HHI. The cooperation will include promoting process automation and the introduction of robots and artificial intelligence to build a digital shipyard, according to the HHI statement. HII and HHI, two of the world's leading shipbuilders, signed a memorandum of understanding this week during the Sea Air Space expo in Washington. Photo: Handout HHI is one of the world's largest shipbuilders, with a market share of about 10 per cent, according to its website. It has the capacity to build naval surface and underwater combatants and auxiliary vessels.
Korea Herald
08-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
HD Hyundai, Huntington Ingalls forge partnership to boost US naval shipbuilding
HD Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding with Huntington Ingalls Industries, a US-based defense shipbuilder, on Monday, marking a major step in the Korean shipbuilding giant's expansion into the US naval market. The signing ceremony took place at Huntington Ingalls' exhibition booth during the Sea Air Space 2025 exhibition in Washington. Huntington Ingalls operates Ingalls Shipbuilding, the largest surface shipyard in the US, which builds two-thirds of the US Navy's Aegis destroyers and all large amphibious assault ships and national security cutters. Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to improve shipbuilding productivity, reduce costs and delivery times and advance the digital transformation of shipyards through automation, robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. The two companies also plan to explore joint investment opportunities, expand cooperation in workforce training and strengthen supply chain collaboration. This partnership further aims to advance the integration of process automation, robotics and AI in the development of digital shipyards, alongside workforce strategy and components outsourcing. In line with these goals, both parties are exploring opportunities for future joint investments. As this agreement marks the first collaboration between leading Korean and US naval shipbuilders, it is expected to serve as a foundation for deeper bilateral cooperation. 'This collaboration between Korea and the US will help advance both nations' shipbuilding industries and further strengthen defense ties," said Joo Won-ho, head of special ship business at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Brian Blanchette, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, added, "This agreement marks a pivotal first step in enhancing shipbuilding capabilities through cooperation between allied nations. By combining our expertise, we will make a meaningful contribution to the construction of high-quality ships that will support the global national security."
Korea Herald
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
HD Hyundai partners with Anduril to co-develop unmanned surface vessels
HD Hyundai Co., a South Korean shipbuilding conglomerate, said Friday it has partnered with US defense technology firm Anduril Industries to jointly develop and commercialize unmanned surface vessels. Under a recently signed memorandum of understanding, the two sides will work to integrate HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation capabilities with Anduril's autonomous systems to build advanced USVs. Anduril, known for its mission control systems powered by artificial intelligence, as well as its surveillance and reconnaissance technologies, supplies systems to the US Navy and Department of Defense, as well as the Australian military. HD Hyundai will develop AI-based automation systems for navigation, propulsion and safety management, while Anduril will focus on systems for mission automation. "It is meaningful to work with Anduril to develop unmanned vessels, a core of next-generation naval platforms," said Joo Won-ho, head of the special ship division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. "We will accelerate the development of both minimally crewed and fully unmanned ships to strengthen naval capabilities and boost defense exports." (Yonhap)
