HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to Showcase Future Naval Technologies at MADEX 2025

SEOUL, May 26 (Korea Bizwire) —HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the shipbuilding arm of HD Hyundai, will unveil a bold vision for its expansion into the global naval defense market at South Korea’s largest maritime defense exhibition, MADEX 2025, opening May 28 in Busan.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ unmanned combat power vessel
[Courtesy of HD Hyundai]

The company announced Sunday it will join forces with defense contractor LIG Nex1 to operate a 218-square-meter exhibition booth at BEXCO, the venue for the four-day event hosted biennially by the Republic of Korea Navy.

MADEX 2025 will feature participation from over 150 companies across 12 countries and is expected to draw 15,000 buyers and naval representatives from more than 30 nations.

Under the themes of domestic, export, and next-generation naval vessels, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will present a range of cutting-edge platforms. These include the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX), the lead ship of the Ulsan-class Batch-III, Chungnam, and the company’s proprietary offshore patrol vessel.

A centerpiece of the export section will be the debut of a 6,500-ton blue-water frigate developed for high-spec international missions, alongside models of frigates already sold to the Philippines and Peru.

In the future vessels section, HD Hyundai will showcase its evolving HCX series, including the HCX-25 concept and a hybrid manned-unmanned command ship designed for future maritime warfare. Other highlights include unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and a next-generation autonomous combat ship.

The company also revealed that it had secured a concept design order from the Korean Navy in April 2025 for a multipurpose unmanned mother ship. This builds on previous work involving a light aircraft carrier-scale transport ship (CVX) and a command vessel for unmanned systems.

To mark the event’s opening, HD Hyundai Heavy will host a reception on May 28 for domestic and international defense officials. The company plans to sign multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including agreements with Leonardo and Thales for the co-development of export-focused warships.

Further partnerships will be inked with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), LIG Nex1, and POSCO to advance future ship technologies and materials. On May 29, HD Hyundai will sign an MOU with the Portuguese Navy for the joint development of a small submarine.

Meanwhile, HD Hyundai will also hold a defense job fair for military personnel on May 29–30 at BEXCO’s main exhibition hall.

“MADEX 2025 will serve as a key platform to demonstrate HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ unrivaled technological capabilities in naval shipbuilding,” said Joo Won-ho, head of the company’s special ship division.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)