Hanwha Philly Shipyard has been tasked with building core vessels that will support the establishment of ‘Golden Dome,’ the next-generation aerial missile defense system of the United States. Boats& Watercraft

The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) officially announced the signing of a contract to build the ‘Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel (MRIV)’ at the naming ceremony for the 4th National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), ‘Lone Star State’, held at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia on July 17 (local time). Named ‘Golden Defender’, these vessels are scheduled to be delivered sequentially starting in 2030.

In this project, Hanwha Philly Shipyard is responsible for the actual shipbuilding and will cooperate with TOTE Services, a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM). TOTE Services plays the role of overseeing the overall schedule and cost management of the construction to ensure timely delivery within budget. The two companies have already built a relationship of trust by jointly conducting a project to build 5 NSMVs commissioned by the Maritime Administration of the United States Department of Transportation.

The MRIV is a special purpose vessel that supports the analysis of test results by tracking trajectories and collecting telemetry data during missile flight tests. It is considered an essential asset for the establishment of the Golden Dome system, the next-generation defense network of the United States.

This order is in line with the policy stance of ‘Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)’ promoted by the Trump administration. Previously, during tariff negotiations, South Korea and the United States released a joint fact sheet in which South Korea would invest approximately $150 billion in the United States shipbuilding industry.

Expectations among local political and government figures are also high. Russell Thurlow Vought, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the White House, emphasized the significance of the contract at the naming ceremony, stating, “Golden Defender will firmly support the establishment of the United States’ missile defense system.”

Sean Duffy, the United States Secretary of Transportation, also mentioned the revival of the United States shipbuilding legacy, saying, “The new vessels will contribute to keeping our military and service members safe from external threats.”

The background to Hanwha Philly Shipyard winning this business right lies in its successful experience executing the previous NSMV project. The shipyard has already delivered 3 out of a total of 5 NSMVs and is currently building the remaining 2. It is analyzed that the adherence to schedules and quality management capabilities demonstrated in government projects led to this additional order. Boats& Watercraft

Hanwha plans to transplant the overwhelming production capabilities of South Korean shipyards to the United States. Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, stated, “We plan to bring the capability of South Korean shipyards, which build about one vessel every week, to Hanwha Philly Shipyard.”

David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, expressed his willingness to carry on the historical legacy of the Philadelphia shipyard, stating, “This project is an example that shows the results when design capabilities, skilled workforce, and cooperation between the government and industry are combined.”

Source:Business Korea