Korea, Japan pursue nuclear submarines at different speeds
South Korea and Japan are stepping up efforts to field their own nuclear-powered submarines despite unresolved legal and fuel challenges, seeking a greater role in their own defense against threats in Northeast Asia. Seoul has approved a development program scheduled to begin next year. Tokyo remains at the policy review stage, with its ruling coalition divided over whether the military benefits of nuclear propulsion justify the costs and legal complicatio
Senior US naval officials visit HD Hyundai shipyard in South Korea
Senior U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officials visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan last week to assess South Korea's shipbuilding capabilities, although the company said Monday that such visits were not unusual amid ongoing cooperation discussions. "Visits by U.S. Navy officials to our company are not uncommon," an HD Hyundai official told AJP. "They have visited several times before, so this particular visit does not
South Korea waives feasibility review for nuclear submarine project
South Korea has waived a feasibility study for its domestically developed nuclear-powered submarine program, clearing a major procedural hurdle as it seeks to begin development in 2027, the country's arms procurement agency said Friday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the decision was approved during the 179th Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee meeting, which endorsed the basic acquisition strategy for the Jang B
HD KSOE wins $464 million order for four ammonia carriers
South Korean shipbuilding group HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has secured a $464 million order to build four very large ammonia carriers for an African shipping company, it said Friday. The contract was signed Thursday, with subsidiary HD Hyundai Heavy Industries set to build the vessels and deliver them by the first half of 2030. The shipowner's identity was not disclosed. The contract is equivalent to 3.58 percent of
Hanwha Ocean Q3 operating profit jumps 68% despite naval ship losses
South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean reported a 67.6 percent increase in third-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, driven by higher-priced commercial ship orders, despite an operating loss in its naval shipbuilding division. The company said Tuesday that its consolidated operating profit reached 485.7 billion won ($363.5 million) in the July-September period, up from 289.8 billion won a year earlier. Revenue rose 12.9 percent to 3.41 trillion
Hanwha Ocean's Q3 operating profit 68% higher
Hanwha Ocean's operating profit rose 68 percent from a year earlier to 485.7 billion won (US$350 million) in the third quarter, buoyed by increased construction of high-priced vessels, the shipbuilder said Tuesday. For the first nine months of this year, revenue climbed 28 percent to 12.07 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 81 percent to 1.66 trillion won, reflecting improved profitability from orders for higher-value vessels. But both reven
HD Hyundai in talks with US engineering firm to establish joint venture
HD Hyundai is in talks with an American engineering company to build a shipyard in the U.S. According to industry sources, the shipbuilder has been discussing plans with Kiewit, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, to establish a joint venture to secure a site and build a ship production facility. Details including the location of site and its construction schedule have yet to be determined, with plans initially focused on manufacturing ship blocks and
HD KSOE wins order from HMM for 8 LNG dual-fuel container ships
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has won an order worth about 2 trillion won (US$1.4 billion) from HMM, formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine, to build eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) container ships, the shipbuilder said Tuesday. The contract for the eight 13,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships is valued at about 1.92 trillion won, adding to HD KSOE's high-value shipbuilding backlog as HMM moves to expand its f
South Korea's Navy plans nuclear-powered submarines, drone carrier
South Korea's Navy plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines and a drone carrier to strengthen its defenses against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the Navy said Tuesday. The Navy outlined its plans during a parliamentary defense audit at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, pledging to strengthen its forces through artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and advanced naval technologies. Under the government-led Jangbogo-N program,
HD Hyundai, Anduril demonstrate autonomous naval vessel in US
South Korea's HD Hyundai has demonstrated autonomous naval vessel technology in the United States with American defense firm Anduril Industries, marking its first such test in U.S. waters. The company said Monday that the demonstration took place off Long Beach, California, using a modified 368-ton experimental vessel previously operated by the U.S. Navy. The vessel was equipped with VAone, an autonomous naval system developed by HD Korea Shipbuildin