HD Hyundai has partnered with the US AI defense company, Anduril Industries (hereafter referred to as Anduril), to develop Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). On the 4th, HD Hyundai announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anduril at the Hyundai Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, for the development and market entry of unmanned surface vehicles. The signing ceremony was attended by Joo Won-ho, the head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ special ship division, and Brian Schimpf, co-founder and CEO of Anduril.
Anduril is a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology company specializing in the defense sector. Utilizing advanced AI technology, the company develops mission control systems, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, unmanned submarines, and drones, supplying them to the US Navy, Department of Defense, and Australia’s Department of Defense.
Through this agreement, HD Hyundai plans to combine its autonomous navigation technology with Anduril’s autonomous mission execution solutions to develop USVs. HD Hyundai will be responsible for developing AI ship automation technology, while Anduril will develop the autonomous mission execution system.
Joo Won-ho of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ special ship division stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with Anduril, an innovative company in the AI defense field, on the development of unmanned ships, a core aspect of the next-generation vessel market. We aim to swiftly realize the development of ships that reduce crew requirements and unmanned vessels using advanced AI technology, providing a driving force for obtaining a mix of manned and unmanned naval power and for the export of ships.”