A leading shipbuilder is deepening its involvement in autonomous naval systems through a partnership with an AI specialist to develop a 200-foot autonomous surface vessel for US military applications.
The program unites Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Defense USA, and HavocAI, integrating shipyard-scale manufacturing expertise with autonomy solutions tailored for operations in contested environments. The unmanned vessel is designed to perform multiple mission sets without a crew onboard.
Under the agreement, Hanwha becomes the only shipbuilder with an operational US shipyard to formally collaborate with an autonomous vessel developer. The company’s Philly Shipyard is under consideration as the main production hub for the ASV program.
HavocAI will deliver the autonomy software suite, based on systems already fielded with the US Department of Defense and proven in GPS-denied scenarios. The partnership also covers preparations for serial production, system installation, and long-term technical and lifecycle support.
