Hanwha has entered a strategic partnership with autonomy specialist HavocAI to develop a 200-foot (70-meter) autonomous surface vessel (ASV) for the US military, marking a significant expansion of the company’s presence in uncrewed naval platforms. The initiative brings together Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Defense USA, and HavocAI, combining large-scale shipbuilding expertise with advanced artificial intelligence-based autonomy.
The vessel is designed to operate without an onboard crew and support a wide range of military missions, including surveillance, logistics, and operations in contested maritime environments. By integrating HavocAI’s autonomy software—already delivered to and evaluated by the US Department of Defense—the platform aims to offer robust performance even in GPS-denied or electronically contested conditions.
The partnership positions Hanwha as the only shipbuilder with an active US shipyard to formally align with a dedicated autonomous vessel developer. Hanwha’s Philly Shipyard is being considered as the primary production site for the large ASV, reinforcing the company’s industrial footprint in the United States and aligning with US military procurement priorities.
Beyond design and development, the agreement includes plans for scalable production, autonomy integration, and long-term technical sustainment. The partners will also prepare for potential mass manufacturing, enabling rapid fleet expansion if the US military moves forward with large-scale adoption of autonomous surface vessels.
