HD Hyundai said Monday it had successfully tested an uncrewed surface vessel off Long Beach, California, as it seeks U.S. Navy programs for the technology; The Korea Herald reported the trial lasted 3.5 hours.
The South Korean shipbuilder described the event as the first demonstration of its kind by a South Korean company in U.S. waters. HD Hyundai said it hopes the technologies shown will help it compete for Navy uncrewed-vessel programs and reach a broader global market for autonomous platforms.
About 40 officials and company executives attended, The Korea Herald reported. Representatives included officials from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, South Korean Navy, American Bureau of Shipping and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
The modified 368-ton vessel had previously been operated by the U.S. Navy. According to the newspaper, it navigated autonomously, changed missions, operated in formation and responded to simulated engine failures. A shore-based control center monitored and broadcast the exercise in real time, allowing attendees to follow the vessel’s decisions.
The vessel carried VAone, naval autonomy software from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, alongside Lattice, Anduril Industries’ artificial intelligence-powered platform for autonomous mission management. The Korea Herald reported that the combined setup demonstrated how an uncrewed vessel could manage navigation, engines, damage control and weapons.
VAone’s navigation functions use HiNAS Prime, developed by Avikus, HD Hyundai’s autonomous shipping subsidiary. The software also monitors machinery, detects abnormalities, automates responses to equipment failures and supports autonomous damage detection and response, the newspaper reported.
At HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, senior executive vice president Chang Kwang-pil said the test showed the vessel could carry out “complex missions” and respond to real-world conditions it might encounter after deployment. He said the company would continue developing and refining the technology as it pursues a position in the uncrewed-vessel market.
