South Korean shipbuilding company HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has partnered with American software firm Palantir Technologies to create Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), aiming to revolutionize naval warfare.
The agreement to develop USVs was signed at Palantir’s office in Washington, D.C., on April 14. The signing ceremony involved key figures from both companies: Dr. Won-ho Joo, Chief Executive of HD HHI’s Naval and Special Ship Business Unit, and Mr. Ryan Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Palantir Technologies.
Palantir Technologies, a leading defense AI company in the U.S., has previously worked with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army. The company has also collaborated with Lockheed Martin on modernizing integrated combat systems for the U.S. Navy.
The collaboration aims to develop a reconnaissance USV by 2026, with plans to later create combat USVs. HD HHI’s subsidiary, Avikus, will contribute autonomous navigation software, integrating it with Palantir’s Mission Autonomy technology. Additionally, HD HHI will be responsible for integrating advanced equipment and designing high-performance hulls for the USVs.
USVs are becoming increasingly important for various missions, including surveillance, mine detection and removal, and combat in hazardous areas. Although currently deployed in combat situations, existing USVs struggle with rough conditions and lack the capabilities of manned vessels. Through this partnership, the companies hope to utilize their expertise in autonomous navigation and defense AI to develop a USV model that can address these challenges.
The companies plan to tailor USV models to meet the requirements of both the U.S. and Korean markets, anticipating that widespread adoption of USVs will allow for comprehensive management of operational environments using AI platforms.
Dr. Won-ho Joo commented during the signing ceremony, “The unmanned vessel market represents a new ‘blue ocean’ dominated by advanced technology, and both companies will pioneer this field based on their achievements and trust.”
Mr. Ryan Taylor added, “It is meaningful to establish a defense partnership following the digital transformation partnership with HD HHI, a leader in the global shipbuilding industry. By applying AI capabilities in future naval warfare, we will continue to build a defense ecosystem that solidifies the competitive advantage of the United States and its allies.”
In addition to this collaboration, HD HHI has recently signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with U.S. defense companies GE Aerospace and L3Harris during Sea Air Space 2024. These agreements focus on developing ship propulsion systems and pursuing strategic collaborations for U.S. Navy ship maintenance, as well as naval ship projects in Australia and Canada.