South Korea’s HD Hyundai and US defence technology company Anduril have completed an autonomous ship technology demonstration near Long Beach, California, testing systems developed through their two-year collaboration on artificial intelligence and uncrewed maritime operations.
The approximately 3.5-hour trial used a 368-tonne offshore support vessel previously operated by the US Navy. Representatives from the US Navy, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the South Korean Navy and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration attended the demonstration.
According to the companies, the trial evaluated autonomous navigation, mission reassignment, coordinated operations involving multiple vessels and responses to system failures. Shore-based control stations monitored the vessel’s activities in real time.
Integrating Autonomous Navigation With AI
The demonstration vessel was equipped with VAOne, an autonomous navigation platform developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and integrated with Anduril’s Lattice software platform.
Lattice combines AI-enabled sensor fusion, mission autonomy, distributed network management and command-and-control capabilities for robotic systems. The integration is intended to bring vessel navigation and operational decision-making together with broader autonomous mission management.
Chang Kwang-pil, senior executive vice president at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said the demonstration tested the vessel’s ability to manage complex tasks and respond to operational challenges.
“The demonstration was meaningful because it confirmed the uncrewed vessel’s ability to carry out complex missions and respond to various real-world scenarios that could occur after deployment,”
Partnership Targets Naval Autonomous Systems
HD Hyundai and Anduril announced their partnership in 2024, with plans to design, develop and manufacture autonomous naval systems for the United States, South Korea and allied countries.
The companies have also outlined plans for a new class of Autonomous Surface Vessels intended for the US Navy’s Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) programme. The vessels are also expected to be adaptable for commercial applications.
The partnership combines HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding and vessel engineering capabilities with Anduril’s expertise in AI-enabled defence software and autonomous systems. Founded in 2017, Anduril develops defence technologies that include autonomous platforms and integrated command-and-control systems.
New Vessel Planned for Sea Trials
The companies are currently building an unnamed vessel at an HD Hyundai shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Sea trials off the US coast could begin as early as November 2026, according to the announced plans.
The upcoming tests would mark another step in moving the collaboration from technology demonstrations toward further vessel development and operational evaluation.
For HD Hyundai, the partnership supports efforts to expand its role in US naval and defence programmes. Anduril, meanwhile, gains access to the capabilities of a major South Korean shipbuilder as it pursues opportunities in South Korea and other allied markets.
Source: MaritimeMagz