On October 31, HJ Heavy Industries (CEO Yoo Sang-chul) and Hanwha Systems signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate and expand into the overseas naval vessel market.
Through this MOU, the two companies will jointly promote the export of naval vessels and related equipment. HJ Heavy Industries will provide technology for the overall construction of the targeted naval vessels, while Hanwha Systems will supply advanced key equipment such as combat systems and radar for the vessels.
HJ Heavy Industries is set to construct various vessels including the Navy’s Chamsuri-class patrol boat (PKMR), Yoon Youngha-class patrol ship (PKG), and the Coast Guard’s Haewoori-class (300t), Taeguk-class (500t), Hangang-class (1000t), Jemin-class (1500t), and Pacific-class (3000t) patrol vessels.
HJ Heavy Industries anticipates reentering the overseas market with this MOU. As the first designated defense contractor in the domestic naval vessel sector in 1974, it became the first Korean company to export naval vessels by shipping four missile patrol boats (PSK) to Indonesia in 1979.
Since then, HJ Heavy Industries has exported over 30 special ships, including patrol vessels and logistics support ships, to countries like Indonesia, India, Thailand, as well as nations in the Middle East and Latin America, demonstrating its technological prowess in shipbuilding. Notably, in the small and medium-sized naval ship sector, it has shown unmatched competitiveness by securing and constructing all orders for new high-speed boats commissioned by the Korean Navy.
Last year, officials from overseas government agencies visited HJ Heavy Industries’ Yeongdo Shipyard, the only domestic facility with air-cushioned high-speed landing craft construction technology, to advance their air-cushion vessel projects.
Recently, the company has won bids for projects such as upgrading the Navy’s Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship, a joint logistics support system, and 3,000-ton Coast Guard patrol vessels, reaffirming its status as a defense contractor capable of executing all life cycle stages of naval vessels from design and construction to upgrades and logistics support.
An HJ Heavy Industries representative stated, “We will maximize synergies by collaborating with Hanwha Systems, which has strengths in the combat system and radar sectors, to expand overseas naval vessel exports. Leveraging our experience and technological capabilities as Korea’s first naval ship export shipyard, we aim to advance into the global defense market.”