Hanwha Philippine Shipyard to Build Support Vessel for U.S. "Golden Dome"

Selected as Contractor for Maritime Missile Test and Instrumentation Vessel Construction
Participation in U.S. National Security Project

Hanwha Philippine Shipyard has been selected as the shipbuilder for the U.S. next-generation missile defense system support vessel project, known as the "Golden Dome."

Exterior view of Hanwha Philippines Shipyard. Hanwha Philippines Shipyard

On the 19th, Hanwha Philippine Shipyard announced that it would undertake the construction of a maritime missile test and instrumentation vessel (MRIV) in partnership with the vessel construction management firm TOTE Services.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) officially announced the MRIV construction contract at the naming ceremony for the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), "Lone Star State," held at Hanwha Philippine Shipyard on July 17 (local time). The MRIV, also referred to as "Golden Defender," is scheduled to be delivered sequentially starting in 2030.

The MRIV is a vessel dedicated to supporting missile testing operations, including flight trajectory tracking, remote data acquisition, communication support, and test outcome analysis. It is considered a core support asset in building the U.S. next-generation missile defense system, Golden Dome.

Hanwha Philippine Shipyard is responsible for the vessel’s construction, while TOTE Services will oversee the overall project schedule and cost management. Both companies are also jointly executing the construction of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration.

This contract is particularly significant as it marks Hanwha Philippine Shipyard, wholly owned by Hanwha, participating in a U.S. national security project under the Trump Administration’s “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)” policy.

With this opportunity, Hanwha Philippine Shipyard has expanded its role from a merchant shipping-focused yard to a shipyard involved in security-related shipbuilding. It is also being recognized as a key hub in the U.S. shipbuilding investment plan, worth $150 billion, announced by South Korea and the U.S. during tariff negotiations.

Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), stated, “We are pleased to announce the contract for the construction of the new missile test and evaluation support vessel, ‘Golden Defender,’ at Hanwha Philippine Shipyard. This vessel will support the buildup of the Golden Dome for the United States.”

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy commented, “This vessel will contribute to protecting our military and servicemembers from external threats, and we will continue to drive the revival of American shipbuilding.”

David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philippine Shipyard, said, “This project is the result of our proven design capabilities, skilled workforce, and close collaboration between government and industry.”

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned Hanwha Philippine Shipyard directly at the National Defense Innovation Summit on July 15, stating, “Large-scale National Security Multi-Mission Vessels will be built at the Philadelphia Shipyard.”

Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, also announced at the same event, “We plan to transfer production capabilities from Korean shipyards to Hanwha Philippine Shipyard.”

Hanwha Philippine Shipyard has already delivered three of the five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration and is currently constructing the remaining two. Additionally, together with Hanwha Defense USA, it is participating in the conceptual design project for the U.S. next-generation logistics support ship (NGLS), further expanding its entry into the U.S. Navy ship market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.