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An unmanned surface vessel test ship equipped with an unmanned autonomous solution jointly developed by HD Hyundai and Anduril performs a mission. / HD Hyundai

HD Hyundai is accelerating its push into the global unmanned vessel market after becoming the first Korean company to successfully demonstrate autonomous navigation technology for an unmanned surface vessel in the U.S.

On the 19th, HD Hyundai announced that it held a joint demonstration of autonomous navigation for an unmanned surface vessel with artificial intelligence (AI) defense firm Anduril off the coast of the Port of Long Beach in California, the U.S.

Around 40 officials from both countries attended the demonstration on that day, including Jang Kwang-pil, executive vice president and head of the Future Technology Research Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, alongside representatives from Anduril, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the Republic of Korea Navy, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

During the demonstration, the two companies showcased the advanced technological capabilities of the unmanned surface vessel by simulating various maritime scenarios, including autonomous navigation, mission changes, formation sailing, and emergency response procedures in the event of engine failure.

During the demonstration, which lasted about three and a half hours, the entire verification process was relayed via a shore-based control station, allowing attendees to observe the unmanned surface vessel's mission execution in real time.

The vessel used in the demonstration was a converted 368-ton large unmanned surface test vessel formerly operated by the U.S. Navy, equipped with "VAone," a comprehensive naval autonomy total solution developed in-house by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and "Lattice," Anduril's mission autonomy software.

"VAone," an acronym for "Vessel Autonomy - No. 1 & Only 1," is based on "HiNAS Prime," an autonomous navigation solution developed by Avikus, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation subsidiary. It is an unmanned navigation solution equipped with both an autonomous machinery system that monitors engine status in real time to detect anomalies and automatically respond, as well as an autonomous damage control solution that detects hull damage and initiates corrective actions on its own.

Through this event, the two companies successfully demonstrated complete unmanned surface vessel capabilities realizing the core pillars of complex unmanned missions—autonomous navigation, engineering, damage control, and weapons systems—by combining VAone with Anduril's Lattice, which has already proven its prowess in operational environments.

In particular, the demonstration holds significant meaning in validating advanced technological prowess, as the unmanned surface vessel flawlessly carried out operational multi-domain missions by continuously making autonomous judgments and responding to multiple real-world maritime scenarios.

Building on the technological capabilities verified through this demonstration, the two companies plan to make a full-scale entry not only into U.S. unmanned surface vessel programs, but also into the global unmanned surface vessel market, where demand has been surging recently.

Executive Vice President Jang Kwang-pil said, "This demonstration is highly significant in confirming the unmanned surface vessel's capability to execute complex missions by responding to diverse operational situations that can arise following departure," adding, "We will devote further efforts to technological development and enhancement to secure a leading position in the future unmanned surface vessel market."

                                                                                                             Kim So-young