Hanwha, Magnet Defense to start construction on new MUSV this fall, testing next year

Hanwha Defense USA and Magnet Defense are establishing a partnership to build medium unmanned surface vessels. (Hanwha Defense USA)

WASHINGTON — Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and autonomous maritime company Magnet Defense are planning to start construction on a new, medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) this fall, and begin testing that vessel early next year, according to HDUSA CEO Michael Coulter.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in April where they agreed to craft a 38-meter MUSV called the H38, based off of Magnet Defense’s flagship MUSV, the M48, Breaking Defense previously reported .

“As we talk with the Navy, they’re very interested in modular solutions,” Coulter told a group of reporters on Tuesday. “One day it may be EW [electronic warfare]. One day it may be linking for communications. One day it may be lethal effects. So we’ve been focused on bringing those capabilities in partnership with Magnet, so we will be beginning construction of those next month, and we’ll be testing on other platforms our payloads this fall, and testing on the H38 in January to bring capability.”

In 2024, the M48 completed a 32,000-nautical mile trip from Miami to American Samoa, passing through the Panama Canal and enduring Sea State 9 conditions. The M48 is equipped to support missions including integrated air and missile defense, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue, according to a March press release from Magnet Defense.

Officials from both companies spoke at the Wharf Marina in Washington aboard an M48 docked pier side, and provided reporters a tour of the vessel. The M48 measures 48 meters long, while the H38 is expected to clock in with slightly smaller dimensions.

Hanwha’s progress on the H38 comes against the backdrop of the Navy’s March launch of a new MUSV marketplace , part of an effort to procure USVs quickly by setting its sights on production-ready, mission capable platforms already available.

When asked about potential plans to compete in future iterations of the MUSV marketplace, Kevin Schoonover, HDUSA’s senior vice president for missiles, said that the marketplace is evolving and they are awaiting more information. Still, he acknowledged that Hanwha wants to throw its hat in the ring if it gets the opportunity to do so.

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“We have meetings and discussions with the Navy related to where they want to go, etc.,” Schoonover told reporters Wednesday. “Our main focus is that we’re leaning forward. We’re going to bring the capability not just as a vessel, but as a complete system that has all the hooks to be able to switch and swap, whether it’s directed energy or a missile system.”

韩华防务美国公司与Magnet Defense公司正在建立合作伙伴关系，共同建造中型无人水面舰艇。（韩华防务美国公司）

华盛顿——据韩华防务美国公司（HDUSA）首席执行官迈克尔·库尔特称，该公司和自主海事公司Magnet Defense计划于今年秋季开始建造一艘新的中型无人水面舰艇（MUSV），并于明年初开始对该舰进行测试。

据 Breaking Defense 此前报道，两家公司于 4 月份签署了一份谅解备忘录，同意打造一款名为 H38 的 38 米 MUSV，该 MUSV 基于 Magnet Defense 的旗舰 MUSV M48。

“我们与海军沟通时发现，他们对模块化解决方案非常感兴趣，”库尔特周二对一群记者说。“未来它或许可以用于电子战，或许可以用于通信链路，或许可以用于致命打击。因此，我们一直致力于与Magnet公司合作，开发这些能力。我们将于下个月开始建造这些设备，并在今年秋季在其他平台上测试我们的有效载荷，明年1月在H-38直升机上进行测试，以提升其作战能力。”

2024年，M48完成了从迈阿密到美属萨摩亚的32000海里航程，途经巴拿马运河，并经受住了9级海况的考验。根据Magnet Defense公司3月份发布的新闻稿，M48配备齐全，可执行包括综合防空和导弹防御、反水面和反潜作战以及搜救在内的多种任务。

两家公司的官员在华盛顿码头码头的一艘M48型游艇上发表了讲话，并带领记者参观了这艘游艇。M48型游艇长48米，而H38型游艇的尺寸预计会略小一些。

韩华在 H38 上取得进展的背景是，海军于 3 月份启动了一个新的 MUSV 市场，这是海军为快速采购无人水面艇而采取的措施之一，其目标是已经可以投入生产并具备任务能力的平台。

当被问及未来是否有计划参与多用途舰艇（MUSV）市场竞争时，HDUSA导弹高级副总裁凯文·舒诺弗表示，市场瞬息万变，他们正在等待更多信息。但他同时承认，如果机会合适，韩华希望参与竞争。

在无人机时代，在你的设施周围加装更高的围栏已经无法保护你了。

传统的设施保护思维必须适应无人机或下游攻击等新威胁。

“我们与海军就他们的发展方向等问题举行了会议和讨论，”斯库诺弗周三告诉记者。“我们的主要重点是积极进取。我们将提供的能力不仅限于舰艇，而是作为一个完整的系统，具备所有必要的接口，可以随时切换和替换，无论是定向能武器系统还是导弹系统。”