Defense contractor Hanwha Defense USA and Miami-based autonomous maritime company Magnet Defense signed a memorandum of understanding Monday at the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Exposition to jointly develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSV) for the U.S. military.
The agreement calls for the two companies to co-produce a 38-meter MUSV, configure vessel capabilities, and collaborate on AI software for autonomy. The MOU also includes plans to develop AI-driven robotic shipyards.
The partnership centers on Magnet Defense's flagship vessel, the M48, which the company says holds the longest range of any MUSV currently at sea: 17,000 nautical miles. The vessel completed a round-trip voyage from Miami to American Samoa in 2024, a journey of approximately 32,000 nautical miles that included passage through the Panama Canal and through Sea State 9 conditions, a threshold representing waves of 14 meters or higher. Additional open-water missions were conducted earlier this year.
Hanwha Defense USA CEO Michael Coulter said the deal would allow his company to pair its manufacturing and robotics capacity with Magnet Defense's autonomous technology. "By partnering with Magnet Defense, Hanwha can utilize its manufacturing capacity and advanced robotics and pair these capabilities with Magnet Defense's proven autonomy and technology," Coulter said.
Magnet Defense CEO Marc Bell emphasized the combined military value of the two companies' core competencies. "Hanwha's advanced missile systems, coupled with Magnet Defense's designed and built MUSVs, make for a powerful combination," Bell said. "Our ability to project force globally by working together in quick response to America's Armed Forces needs is critical in today's ever-changing environment."
