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

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. 

“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.”