WASHINGTON — Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and autonomous maritime firm Magnet Defense said they will begin building a new medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) this fall, with sea trials planned for early next year, according to HDUSA CEO Michael Coulter.
In April the two firms signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 38‑meter MUSV designated the H38, which will be derived from Magnet Defense’s flagship M48, as previously reported by Breaking Defense.
Coulter told reporters on Tuesday that the Navy is keen on modular concepts, noting that the vessel could someday handle electronic warfare, communications linking, or lethal payloads. He added that construction will begin next month, with payload trials on other platforms this fall and H38 testing scheduled for January.
In 2024 the M48 logged a 32,000‑nautical‑mile voyage from Miami to American Samoa, transiting the Panama Canal and operating in Sea State 9 conditions. According to a March press release from Magnet Defense, the vessel is capable of integrated air and missile defense, anti‑surface and anti‑submarine warfare, and search‑and‑rescue missions.
Officials from both firms spoke at Washington’s Wharf Marina alongside a pier‑side M48, giving reporters a tour of the vessel. The M48 is 48 meters long, and the H38 is anticipated to be slightly shorter.
Hanwha’s work on the H38 follows the Navy’s March launch of a new MUSV marketplace aimed at accelerating the acquisition of production‑ready, mission‑capable unmanned surface vessels.
When questioned about future participation in the MUSV marketplace, Kevin Schoonover, HDUSA’s senior vice president for missiles, said the environment is still evolving and more details are needed, but he noted that Hanwha is eager to compete if the chance arises.
Schoonover told reporters on Wednesday that Hanwha is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Navy about its future direction, emphasizing that the company aims to deliver not just a ship but a fully integrated system capable of swapping payloads such as directed‑energy weapons or missile systems.