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HD Hyundai, Korean Air expand defense ties with US firm Anduril
The Korea Times
- HD Hyundai and Korean Air on Thursday announced separate agreements with U.S.
defense technology firm Anduril Industries to jointly develop unmanned defense
platforms, in a push to expand their presences in the field of military systems
based on artificial intelligence (AI).
HD Hyundai, a
Korean shipbuilding conglomerate, said it signed a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) with Anduril on Wednesday at its global research center in Seongnam,
south of Seoul, as a follow-up to an earlier memorandum of understanding (MOU)
signed in April.
Under the MOA,
HD Hyundai will integrate Anduril's autonomous mission execution systems into
its USVs, currently under development for the Korean market.
HD Hyundai
will provide AI-based autonomy solutions for Anduril's manned and unmanned
naval platforms for the U.S. market, in addition to handling ship design and
construction.
The companies
also agreed to jointly develop prototype USVs tailored for both the Korean and
U.S. markets, with the Korean prototype slated for release around 2027.
Separately,
Korean Air said it has formed a strategic partnership with Anduril to
co-develop autonomous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for Korea and the broader
Asia-Pacific region.
The
announcement was made during an event commemorating the launch of Anduril's
office in Seoul.
Under the
partnership, Korean Air and Anduril will co-develop Korean-type UAS based on
Anduril's proprietary platforms and explore export opportunities across the
region. The companies are also considering establishing manufacturing
infrastructure in the country.
"This
partnership combines Korean Air's proven expertise in UAS with Anduril's
cutting-edge AI technology," said Lim Jin-kyu, senior vice president and
head of Korean Air's aerospace division. "This collaboration will enhance
our capabilities and represents a significant milestone in the global unmanned
systems market."
Joo Won-ho,
head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' special ship business division, said,
"Through collaboration with Anduril, which possesses world-class
autonomous mission technology, we aim to develop the most advanced unmanned
naval platforms."
Founded in
2017, Anduril has drawn attention for its software-first approach to defense
development. The company is known for its AI-powered mission control systems,
as well as its autonomous surveillance and reconnaissance technologies.
Anduril
currently supplies systems to the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense and the
Australian military. (Yonhap)
