Anduril Industries and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are partnering to develop a new class of dual-use Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV). This collaboration merges HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding legacy with Anduril’s expertise in software-defined autonomy and rapid mission systems integration. The joint effort aims to create a modular family of vessels for both commercial and defense applications, including a specific variant for the U.S. Navy’s Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) program.
The strategic imperative is clear. With China’s naval expansion and challenges to maritime security, the U.S. must accelerate its ability to build, field, and modernize ships. The MASC program is pivotal to this shift, envisioning a distributed, autonomous, hybrid fleet capable of operating in contested waters. Manned warships alone are insufficient; the Navy requires affordable, autonomous vessels that can be produced at speed, deployed in volume, and continuously upgraded.
The ASV is designed for this reality. Its core principles are modularity, speed of production, and mission flexibility. An open-architecture design supports interchangeable payloads, enabling a single vessel to be rapidly reconfigured for intelligence, surveillance, strike, or electronic warfare. A central superstructure provides a 360-degree field of view for optimal situational awareness and payload performance. The integrated autonomy software unifies propulsion, navigation, and payload control into a single networked system. Built in steel for easier welding and maintenance, the vessel is designed for durability and scalable manufacturing, leveraging the existing domestic supply base.
The development strategy is a two-phase approach: prototype in Korea, then build and scale in America. The first ASV prototype is being fabricated in Korea, utilizing HD Hyundai’s industrial capacity to validate the design and integrate systems. Future vessels, including MASC variants, will be built entirely in the United States. Anduril has invested tens of millions to revamp the historic Foss Shipyard in Seattle, establishing a hub for vessel assembly, integration, and testing. This location in the Pacific Northwest offers the necessary infrastructure, supply chain, and skilled labor to re-energize American shipbuilding.
This initiative extends Anduril’s maritime capabilities, building on programs like the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle. The new ASV class, alongside other systems, helps complete more maritime kill chains. A shared ecosystem of autonomy software, modular payloads, and common manufacturing infrastructure makes the entire system more capable and affordable over time, representing a fundamental shift in how naval power is projected.
