California-based Anduril Industries, a defense contractor, and South Korea-based HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, a shipbuilder, have partnered to design and produce a new class of dual-use Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV) that can be used for commercial and defense uses.
The ASV features an open-architecture design that supports interchangeable payloads and a central superstructure that provides an unobstructed 360-degree field of view. Its autonomy software integrates propulsion, navigation and payload control into a unified networked system.
A dual-use ASV prototype is being built of steel in South Korea. Construction uses HD Hyundai’s industrial capacity to validate designs, integrate propulsion and power systems, and automate ship functions with autonomy. It also will prepare the vessel for U.S. production ahead of its maiden voyage.
Future vessels will be built in the United States. In preparation, Anduril has invested tens of millions of dollars to renovate a previously retired shipyard at the former Foss Shipyard in Seattle to serve as Anduril’s initial U.S. hub.
Autonomous Surface Vessels build on Anduril Maritime’s success with Ghost Shark, the extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle the company is developing with the Royal Australian Navy.
Anduril and HD Hyundai also are partnering with California-based Hadrian, a defense and space manufacturing company, to modernize manufacturing.