South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is expanding its cooperation with the U.S. Navy after becoming the first Korean company to win key research projects from the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
HD HHI Press Release Translated by Naval News
HD HHI announced that it recently held a contract signing ceremony with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for two research projects, including one focused on improving naval vessel performance. ONR, which operates under the U.S. Department of the Navy, is a key organization responsible for overseeing science and technology R&D for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
The signing ceremony was held at ONR headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and was attended by Jang Kwang-pil, Executive Vice President and Head of the Future Technology Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Rachel Riley, Chief of Naval Research at ONR.
Under the newly awarded contracts, HD HHI will carry out a project aimed at improving naval vessel performance using artificial intelligence technologies.
Based on HD Hyundai’s advanced digital ship technologies, HD HHI and Seoul National University’s Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, led by Professor Yonghwan Kim, will jointly develop the required technologies.
HD Hyundai has also secured a project to develop technologies that will improve productivity in naval vessel construction, drawing on its advanced manufacturing capabilities. This research will be conducted by the Future Technology Institute of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.
Through these ONR project awards, HD HHI is set to become a key partner of the U.S. Navy in joint research spanning both naval vessel development and construction.
The awards are particularly significant in that they represent U.S. Navy recognition of HD HHI’s advanced technologies in the naval ship sector.
“Winning these ONR projects marks an opportunity to further expand our cooperation with the United States in the naval ship sector. As Korea’s leading shipbuilder, we remain committed to strengthening the global presence of Korea’s naval defense industry.”
Joo Won-ho, President of HD HHI and Head of the Naval and Medium-Sized Ship Business Unit
