Overview
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Huntington Ingalls Industries signed a memorandum of agreement at APEC in Gyeongju to collaborate on auxiliary and logistics vessels for the U.S. Navy.
- The partners will jointly pursue the Navy’s Next-Generation Logistics Ship concept-design contract following the recent request for proposals.
- The MOA includes exploration of joint investments or acquisitions of U.S. shipbuilding facilities, with HD Hyundai to supply block modules and key components to HII’s Newport News and Ingalls yards.
- The pact expands cooperation into engineering and R&D for AI/ML, robotics and automation, and outlines lifecycle support coordination including in-theater work for Indo-Pacific operations.
- The move fits into ongoing Korea–U.S. investment and tariff negotiations that include a reported $150 billion South Korean shipbuilding pledge, while HD Hyundai advances USV development with Anduril and reviews U.S. market entry options.