Hanwha shipyard secures $2 billion U.S. contract for missile test vessels

Hanwha's Philippine shipyard has won a significant contract to construct two missile test instrumentation vessels (MRIVs) for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The shipyard announced on Tuesday that it was selected as the builder for the MRIV project, partnering with the U.S. vessel management firm Tot Services.

The MRIVs are designed to track speed, altitude, and trajectory during missile test launches, while also collecting and analyzing telemetry data. The two vessels ordered, to be named 'Golden Defender,' will replace the 'Pacific Tracker' and 'Pacific Collector,' which were built in 1965 and 1970, respectively. This upgrade aims to modernize the U.S. missile testing infrastructure.

The total value of the contract is estimated at $2 billion, approximately 3 trillion South Korean won. Hanwha's Philippine shipyard will be responsible for the actual construction, with Tot Services overseeing the management of the building process. The first MRIV is expected to be delivered to the MDA in 2030. David Kim, CEO of Hanwha's Philippine shipyard, expressed confidence in delivering vessels that meet the client's expectations for quality and reliability.

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We look forward to delivering these vessels based on the quality and reliability our customers expect.