Hanwha Group Partners with US-based Magnet Defense to Develop Unmanned Surface Vessels

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Group has formed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Magnet Defense to jointly develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) for the U.S. military, the Korean conglomerate announced Tuesday. Under the memorandum of understanding signed at the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Exposition held in Maryland on Monday (U.S. time), Hanwha Defense USA, the group's U.S. subsidiary, and Magnet Defense plan to collaborate on the development and production of MUSVs, which are designed to operate without onboard crews and carry out a range of missions, including surveillance, logistics and combat support. Under the agreement, the two companies will produce a 38-meter MUSV for potential supply to the Pentagon. It is expected to be based on Magnet Defense's M48 platform, combined with Hanwha's shipbuilding and defense technologies. The move is part of Hanwha's broader push to expand its presence in the U.S. defense industrial sector through local partnerships and advanced manufacturing capabilities. "By partnering with Magnet Defense, Hanwha can utilize its manufacturing capacity and advanced robotics, and pair these capabilities with Magnet Defense's proven autonomy and technology," Hanwha Defense USA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Coulter said. Marc Bell, CEO of Magnet Defense, said, "Hanwha's advanced missile systems, coupled with Magnet Defense's designed and built MUSVs, make for a powerful combination."