^{Photo: CNN}

A Bold Claim from a Strategic Shipyard

Hanwha’s Philadelphia Shipyard has the technical capability to build nuclear powered submarines for the U.S. Navy, according to senior leadership at the South Korean industrial group. The statement underscores Hanwha’s growing ambitions in the U.S. defense sector as Washington looks to expand and modernize its naval fleet.

Alex Wong, global chief strategy officer at Hanwha Group, said the company is prepared to support America’s submarine program once government approvals and contracts are in place. Speaking during a media event at the Philadelphia facility, Wong emphasized that demand for nuclear powered submarines is expected to remain strong for decades.

U.S. Submarine Demand Is Rising

The United States has made nuclear powered submarines a cornerstone of its naval strategy, both for domestic defense and alliance commitments. With the Navy facing production bottlenecks and workforce shortages, expanding industrial capacity has become a top priority.

Hanwha executives said Washington is actively exploring ways to scale the submarine industrial base, particularly for advanced platforms such as Virginia class submarines. In response, the company has begun recruiting engineers and specialists with direct experience in U.S. submarine programs, signaling serious intent rather than long term speculation.

Trump Administration Pushes Shipbuilding Revival

Hanwha’s expansion aligns closely with President Donald Trump’s renewed push to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which has struggled for years with rising costs, limited capacity, and competition from Asia. South Korean shipbuilders, long regarded as global leaders in naval construction, are positioning themselves as partners in that effort.

As part of a broader trade agreement signed last month, South Korea committed $150 billion in investment into the U.S. shipbuilding sector. The deal also reduced U.S. tariffs on Korean automobile imports from 25 percent to 15 percent, linking industrial cooperation directly to trade policy.

Trump confirmed earlier this week that Hanwha would participate in building frigates for the U.S. Navy, publicly praising the company and its long term investment plans.

Major Expansion Underway in Philadelphia

Hanwha acquired the Philadelphia Shipyard in 2024 for $100 million and has since announced plans to invest roughly $5 billion to expand and modernize the facility. The shipyard is expected to play a central role in Hanwha’s U.S. strategy, serving both commercial and defense customers.

To support future growth, Hanwha is in discussions with potential partners to secure additional land or an extra dock, according to Jongwoo Cho, head of shipyard operations. While details remain limited, executives indicated that expansion plans are being designed with large scale naval construction in mind.

Strategic Implications for U.S. Defense

If approved to build nuclear powered submarines, Hanwha’s Philadelphia Shipyard could significantly ease pressure on existing U.S. naval yards and accelerate delivery timelines for critical assets. Such a move would also deepen defense ties between the U.S. and South Korea at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Indo Pacific.

For Hanwha, the opportunity represents a major step up the value chain, positioning the group as a long term player in one of the most sensitive and strategically important segments of U.S. defense manufacturing.

As Washington searches for partners capable of delivering complex naval platforms at scale, Hanwha’s growing footprint in Philadelphia is increasingly difficult to ignore.