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Hanwha Ocean has partnered with U.S. ship-design heavyweight Leidos Gibbs & Cox to strengthen next-generation ship design and engineering that meet U.S. Navy operational requirements. Hanwha says the alliance will expand its business opportunities and improve profitability in the global naval defense market.
Hanwha Ocean announced on April 21 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Leidos Gibbs & Cox at SAS 2026 in Maryland. The MOU is focused on bolstering U.S. and allied naval shipbuilding capabilities.
Under the agreement, Hanwha plans to build a practical joint front to pursue U.S. Navy shipbuilding work and to secure a distinctive competitive edge.
◇ Merging with U.S. Navy design standards…’Hanwha-style’ ship advancement
Hanwha Ocean plans to incorporate 70% or more of Leidos Gibbs & Cox’s U.S. Navy surface-ship design expertise into its shipbuilding capabilities.
The companies agreed to develop a Hanwha-designed hull optimized to U.S. Navy specifications, jointly create next-generation vessels for global markets, and establish a supply chain that leverages production sites in the United States and South Korea.
Leveraging its partner’s experience on U.S. Navy programs — including designs for the Aegis destroyer (DDG-51) and the next-generation frigate (FFG-62) — Hanwha will pursue ship designs optimized for production efficiency and maintenance (MRO) to gain a technical advantage.
◇ Building a U.S. market model that surpasses Fincantieri
Hanwha Ocean said it will benchmark Italy’s Fincantieri, which successfully established a foothold in the U.S. market, and intends to build an even stronger model.
Because Leidos Gibbs & Cox served as a key partner on Fincantieri’s U.S. Navy frigate projects, Hanwha views this collaboration as a potential turning point for entering the U.S. ship market.
Mike Riekels, vice president of Leidos Gibbs & Cox, said, “By combining proven design expertise with world-class manufacturing capabilities, our cooperation with Hanwha Ocean will produce ships optimized for future change.”
◇ Solo exhibition at SAS 2026…accelerating global expansion
Hanwha Ocean was the only Korean firm to host a standalone 148㎡ (about 1,593 sq ft) exhibit at SAS 2026, showcasing its international ambitions.
At the booth, the company displayed an advanced lineup that drew strong interest: the Ulsan-class frigate Batch III, Jangbogo-III-class submarine, an uncrewed surface vessel (MUSV), an extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV), and the Global Fast Sealift (GFS) strategic transport ship.
Seong-cheol Eo, president and head of Hanwha Ocean’s Special Ships Business Division, said, “This agreement will give Hanwha Ocean a clear technical advantage in the global ship market. By working with Leidos, a leading U.S. defense firm, we will accelerate our entry into the global maritime defense market and deliver tangible results.”
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