A major South Korean shipbuilder is advancing into autonomous naval warfare, as Hanwha teams with AI firm HavocAI to develop a 70-meter autonomous surface vessel for the US armed forces. The collaboration unites Hanwha’s shipbuilding and defense subsidiaries with HavocAI’s proven autonomy technologies to deliver a large, crewless naval platform.
The proposed ASV is designed for multi-mission military operations, operating independently in high-risk maritime environments. HavocAI will provide the vessel’s autonomy stack, leveraging software already fielded with the US Department of Defense and validated in GPS-denied scenarios, a critical requirement for modern naval operations.
Through the partnership, Hanwha becomes the only shipbuilder operating a US-based shipyard to formally partner with an autonomous vessel developer. The company’s Philadelphia-based shipyard is expected to play a central role in building the large ASV, offering shipyard-scale production capacity aligned with US naval requirements.
The agreement extends beyond initial development to include preparations for serial production, system installation, and long-term technical and lifecycle support. Together, Hanwha and HavocAI aim to deliver a scalable autonomous naval platform capable of supporting future US military operations as demand for uncrewed surface vessels continues to grow.
