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HDUSA Press Release
ARLINGTON, Va., March 30, 2026 – Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and Hanwha Philly Shipyard were awarded their first project with the U.S. Navy as a subcontractor to Vard Marine US, Inc. (VARD) on the Next Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) Program, also referred to as the light replenishment oiler (T-AOL).
This is the first U.S. Navy contract awarded to HDUSA since the company’s establishment and Hanwha’s acquisition of the Philly Shipyard. Since December 2024, Hanwha has invested more than $200 million in upgrading the Philly Shipyard’s workforce, capabilities, and capacity.
Under this contract, Hanwha will partner with VARD on conducting a market survey and perform a concept design and refinement for the new NGLS platform. Hanwha will also support manufacturability, commercial construction practices, and the evaluation of production costs.
The award also includes options that can be exercised for functional design planning and special studies. The NGLS will provide sustained afloat or ashore refueling, resupply and rearm capabilities within a smaller platform with the intention of focusing on commercially available, non-developmental and proven technologies.
“Hanwha is proud to partner with VARD in the design and integration of the Next Generation Logistics Ship for the U.S. Navy,” said Hanwha Defense USA President of Shipbuilding Tom Anderson. “This award represents an important step in our ability to leverage our world-class shipbuilding expertise in building the ships the Navy needs to support our servicemembers deployed in contested maritime domains.”
“Vard Marine US is proud to continue our partnership with the United States Navy in support of this critical mission,” said Darren Truelock, President of Vard Marine US, Inc. “Our team is committed to delivering an NGLS design foundation that advances the Navy’s replenishment capabilities through a refined, cost-effective, and operationally superior platform. We remain steadfast in our dedication to providing the US Navy and the American people with solutions that uphold both fiscal responsibility and national readiness.”
About Hanwha Defense USA
A subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Defense USA delivers proven platforms with a demonstrated process maturity successfully projected across numerous markets and supply chains across the globe, with a track record of developing local workforces required to produce and sustain across product life cycles to meet the needs of warfighters and industrial base partners. HDUSA continues to expand its U.S. footprint through organic growth, strategic industrial partnerships, and selective business acquisition. For more information on Hanwha Defense USA, please visit www.hanwhadefenseusa.com.
About Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard is a leading U.S. shipbuilder that has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of ocean-going merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going U.S. Jones Act commercial ships since 2000. The shipyard is part of Hanwha Group, a multinational company with a robust network of affiliates in the energy, shipbuilding, defense, aerospace, finance, and retail & services industries. To learn more about what’s on the horizon, visit www.hanwhaphillyshipyard.com.
About Vard Marine US, Inc.
Vard Marine is the North American operations under Vard Group, the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels, which consists of consulting naval architecture and marine engineering companies with US and Canadian operations located in Houston, Vancouver and Ottawa; and offices in Gdańsk, Poland and Vũng Tàu, Vietnam. Vard Marine offers professional ship design, engineering, and shipbuilding technology services, with a vessel gallery that ranges from naval auxiliaries and patrol ships to icebreakers, research vessels, offshore construction, supply, and ferries.
Fincantieri Oil & Gas S.p.A, a wholly owned subsidiary of FINCANTIERI S.p.A. Headquartered in Trieste, Italy, is majority shareholder of VARD with around 98 % of the shares. FINCANTIERI is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, the only player active in all high complexity marine industry sectors. The Group is a leader in the construction of cruise ships, naval and offshore vessels, and stands out for its extensive experience in the development of underwater solutions, thanks to its integrated industrial structure capable of managing and coordinating all activities related to the commercial, defense, and dual-use sectors.
More information on Vard Marine can be found at https://vardmarine.com.