Hanwha Philly Shipyard has been tasked with building a key support ship to be deployed for the United States' 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. The U.S. Maritime Administration on July 17 (local time) officially announced the signing of a contract to build a sea-based missile test instrumentation vessel (MRIV) at a naming ceremony for the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) held at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

The MRIV is used to track trajectories during missile flight tests, collect telemetry data and analyse test results. It is an essential component of the next-generation air missile defense system the United States is building, known as 'Golden Dome'. It is referred to as 'Golden Defender' and is set to be delivered in phases starting in 2030.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard will handle construction, while TOTE Services, a vessel construction manager (VCM), will oversee schedule and cost management. The two companies are also cooperating on a project commissioned by the Maritime Administration to build 5 NSMVs. Hanwha Philly Shipyard has delivered 3 NSMVs to date and is building 2 more.

The contract was signed under the Trump administration's 'Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)' policy. South Korea and the United States published a joint fact sheet during tariff negotiations stating that South Korea would invest about $150 billion in the U.S. shipbuilding industry, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard has been seen as a key pillar of the plan. Russell Vought (러셀 서로우 보우트), director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), said, "This vessel will support the building of the United States' 'Golden Dome' missile defense system."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (션 더피) said, "These new vessels being built at Hanwha Philly Shipyard will help keep our military and service members safer from external threats," adding, "We will continue the journey of reviving the legacy of the U.S. shipbuilding industry."

David Kim (데이비드 김), CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, stressed, "This project is a practical example of what is possible when proven design capabilities, a skilled workforce, and close cooperation between government and industry come together."