U.S. Navy Orders New Type of Landing Ship from South Korean Company

According to a report by Reference News Network on November 7, the U.S. Navy plans to procure approximately 35 "Macron" class landing ships, having currently placed an order for 1 ship with the Hanwha Group's shipyard located in Philadelphia, with the possibility of ordering 3 more later.

The U.S. Navy has selected the American subsidiary of South Korean maritime giant Hanwha Group—Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard—to undertake a contract for a "Macron" class medium landing ship, with a contract value of approximately $269 million.

This initial order includes 1 medium landing ship, along with options for an additional 3 ships. Hanwha has stated that construction work will begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, with a target delivery date of 2030.

Although the complete design plan for the "Macron" class landing ship has not yet been released, the ship heavily draws on the concept of the LST-100 landing ship developed by the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group.

The "Macron" class landing ship is a relatively small amphibious transport vessel designed to transport Marines, vehicles, weapons, and supplies between coastal locations. This type of landing ship has a shallow draft, features a bow door, and is equipped with a loading ramp to directly unload vehicles and equipment onto the shore. The core positioning of the medium landing ship is transportation and reaching hard-to-access locations.

This type of landing ship serves the U.S. Marine Corps' "Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations" (EABO) concept. According to the EABO concept, small Marine Corps units will be dispersed across various islands and coastal positions rather than relying solely on large centralized bases. These forces can deploy mobile anti-ship missiles, sensors, air defense systems, and other equipment. For example, the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), capable of launching missiles from land, poses a threat to enemy surface vessels, while the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provides additional long-range fire support. However, to operate as intended, dispersed units need to maneuver and transport between islands, especially in areas without traditional ports or in harsh environmental conditions. The construction of medium landing ships is precisely to provide this mobility capability.

In addition to the strategic significance of the construction project itself, the importance of this contract also lies in the contracting company. Hanwha Group acquired the Philadelphia Shipyard in 2024, thereby expanding its footprint in the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

This new facility creates an opportunity for the combination of U.S. domestic industry and Hanwha Group's extensive industry experience. The timing of the contract award is also noteworthy, as the U.S. Navy is currently facing labor shortages at shipyards and delays in construction timelines, making it difficult to expand fleet production capacity to meet future operational demands. Hanwha has announced plans to invest in modernizing the Philadelphia facility and developing a local workforce. Additionally, the shipbuilding operations company TOTE Services will serve as the shipbuilding supervisor for the project, responsible for contracting and construction work.

The U.S. Navy plans to procure approximately 35 "Macron" class medium landing ships. By employing multiple shipyards to build in parallel, it is expected to enhance production capacity and reduce reliance on a single builder; however, whether this new procurement model can ensure timely delivery of the ships has yet to be validated.

Ultimately, the medium landing ship project itself is not considered a heavyweight project and cannot be compared to aircraft carriers or destroyers. Nevertheless, the medium landing ship still possesses critical capabilities that can ensure the U.S. Marine Corps conducts dispersed operations across the Pacific. (Translated by Liu Xiaoyan)