Overview
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Huntington Ingalls Industries signed a memorandum of agreement on Oct. 26 in Gyeongju during APEC events, formalizing expanded collaboration.
- The agreement commits the companies to explore acquiring or establishing U.S. shipbuilding facilities and to pursue flexible, distributed construction to reinforce the industrial base.
- The partners will team on the U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Logistics Ship concept design, responding to a recent RFP after agreeing in early October to pursue the design contract together.
- The scope includes maintenance, repair and overhaul and in-theater lifecycle support for U.S. and allied fleets, with a joint engineering venture under consideration, according to company statements reported by Korean media.
- Executives cast the collaboration as part of broader Korea–U.S. economic engagement that features large investment pledges for U.S. shipbuilding, while tariff negotiations remain unresolved ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit.