HD Hyundai and Anduril showcase autonomous ship trial off Long Beach

HD Hyundai Co. and Anduril Industries jointly performed a 3½-hour autonomous-vessel trial off the coast of Long Beach, California, using a 368-ton ship previously operated by the U.S. Navy. The vessel was equipped with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s VAOne autonomous navigation system and Anduril’s Lattice mission-management software, allowing it to navigate, alter missions, coordinate with a fleet and handle simulated system failures while being monitored from shore-based control stations.

This was the inaugural demonstration of South Korean autonomous navigation technology in United States waters, underscoring HD Hyundai’s strategy to enter the U.S. defense market by pairing its shipbuilding expertise with Anduril’s autonomous capabilities. In parallel, the two firms are building an additional unmanned vessel at HD Hyundai’s shipyard in Ulsan, with sea trials planned off the U.S. coast next month. The successful test highlights growing collaboration between Korean shipbuilders and American defense tech firms.