HD Hyundai partners with US shipbuilder on Navy ships
South Korea’s HD Hyundai partnered with America’s largest military shipbuilder to construct support vessels for the Navy. The companies signed their agreement on Sunday at a hotel in Gyeongju ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Huntington Ingalls Industries operates major yards in Virginia and Mississippi that will receive Korean-made modules and components.
The partnership targets auxiliary ships that transport fuel and supplies with improved mobility. Both firms plan to invest in American production facilities and maintenance operations for naval fleets. A joint engineering venture may follow as the collaboration expands beyond initial vessel construction.
The Navy requested design proposals in September for its modernization program. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will work with Huntington Ingalls Industries to compete for contracts while establishing manufacturing capacity in the United States. Company executives described the partnership as a strategic milestone between both nations.
