The contract marks the first U.S. Navy project awarded to Hanwha Defense USA since its establishment and follows Hanwha’s acquisition of the Philly Shipyard. Since December 2024, the company has invested more than $200 million to enhance the shipyard’s workforce, capabilities and production capacity.
Under the agreement, Hanwha will support Vard Marine in conducting a market survey and developing the concept design for the new logistics ship. The work also includes refining the design and assessing manufacturability and production costs.
The programme, also known as the light replenishment oiler, is intended to deliver a smaller, more efficient platform for refueling, resupply and rearmament operations. It is designed to rely on commercially available and proven technologies to reduce development risk.
“Hanwha is proud to partner with VARD in the design and integration of the Next Generation Logistics Ship for the U.S. Navy,” said 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,” he added.
The contract also includes options for additional work, including functional design planning and specialised studies. These options may be exercised as the programme progresses.
Officials said the NGLS platform is intended to enhance the Navy’s ability to sustain operations both at sea and ashore. The design focuses on cost-effective solutions while maintaining operational capability.
“Vard Marine US is proud to continue our partnership with the United States Navy in support of this critical mission,” said Darren Truelock.
“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,” he added.
“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,” Truelock said.
The award highlights Hanwha’s growing presence in the U.S. defence sector. It also reflects ongoing efforts to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity and support future naval requirements.
