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(dramatic orchestral music)

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- [Announcer] "Defense
News" is proudly sponsored

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by Navy Federal Credit Union.

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If you're a member of our
nation's armed forces,

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the Department of Defense,
or if your family is,

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we'd be proud to serve you, too.

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On this episode of "Defense News Weekly,"

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we wrap up our coverage

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from the 2026 Sea-Air-Space Conference.

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This week, updates on shipbuilding.

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We talk to shipbuilders, HII and Hanwha,

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about their efforts to expand production.

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Plus, a look at a new surface drone

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for mapping and communications.

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Also, updates on pay and benefits news

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for troops and veterans.

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It's the latest in news and analysis

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from the Pentagon to the platoon

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here on "Defense News Weekly."

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(lively percussive music)

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Welcome back to "Defense News Weekly."

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In the halls of the
Pentagon, Capitol Hill,

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and major defense companies,

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there is no bigger
topic than shipbuilding.

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The need to increase the rate

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of naval production looms large.

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At Sea-Air-Space 2026, we
talked to two companies

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working on the problem: HII and Hanwha.

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Here's some of what they had to say.

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(light electro-synth music)

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- I'm Duane Fotheringham.

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I'm the president of the unmanned systems

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business unit within HII.

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HII is probably best known
as being a shipbuilder

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of nuclear ships and
conventional warships.

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But we're part of the
Mission Technologies,

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and we bring a whole
portfolio of technologies

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to the warfighter.

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My business unit, the unmanned systems,

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we bring a whole portfolio
of unmanned vessels

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and underwater vehicles, and
unmanned surface vessels.

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That's the REMUS line of
unmanned underwater vehicles

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and the ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels.

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In underwater vehicles,

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we build everything from
small class to large class.

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We build over 750 vehicles,

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delivered those at 30
countries around the world.

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On the ROMULUS USVs,

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we build everything from
small seven-foot vessels,

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up to what you see here is
our 151-foot ROMULUS vessel.

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This is the vessel that is part
of our medium USV portfolio.

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So our REMUS UUVs.

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Yesterday we celebrated the
25th anniversary of REMUS.

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So we've been building
vehicles for a long time.

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We've built over 750 vehicles

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delivered into 30
countries around the world.

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Being used for everything
from ocean-bottom mapping

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to intelligence gathering.

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The most common use of the vehicles

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is for mine countermeasures.

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So we are the U.S.
Navy's vehicle of choice

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for expeditionary mine countermeasures.

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Our largest program right
now is the Lionfish program.

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We deliver that to the U.S. Navy

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for expeditionary mine countermeasures.

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That was a DIU program.

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In fact, that was the first
DIU program ever to transition

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from an OTA to a full-rate
program of record.

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And we're delivering that
vehicle at scale right now,

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we're delivering.

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And in the total backlog right now,

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we have over 100 small vehicles

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that we're building for Lionfish

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and for our international customers.

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For the medium UUVs,

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you'll see a model of
it over here next to us.

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That vehicle has been recently used

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to do torpedo-tube launch recovery.

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Our first-generation REMUS 600
with Yellow Moray technology

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developed by the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution

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successfully performed
real-world operational missions

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with U.S. submarines swimming
in and out of torpedo tubes.

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Our REMUS 620, the latest
generation of that vehicle,

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last summer went through tests to prove

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that it could do the same on a
test platform at Seneca Lake.

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ROMULUS vessels are in production today.

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We are delivering them to
a variety of customers,

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from the small size to the large size.

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Right now, we are building five medium

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unmanned surface vessels, the ROMULUS 151,

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at our partnership yard in Louisiana,

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Breaux Brothers Enterprises.

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So the commonality that links

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both of our underwater vehicles

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and our unmanned surface
vessels together is autonomy.

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And our autonomy is Odyssey.

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It's an AI-enabled, full-platform,

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open-architecture, modular,

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designed to be scaled from
small vessels to large vessels,

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from underwater vessels
to surface vessels.

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And one of the things that make us unique

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is that open-architecture
aspect of our autonomy.

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We can bring third-party
autonomy behaviors

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onto our platform to get best of breed

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in everything that we do.

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- Hello, I'm Rick Williams,
and I do business development

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for Mission Technologies and
unmanned surface vessels.

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And I'm here to talk today
about our C4I systems:

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command, control,
communications, computing, cyber,

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and how we integrate that

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with lots of different types
of payloads and networks.

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The innovations are adding
artificial intelligence

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and machine learning
to the autonomy systems

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and using AI at the tactical edge

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and at the operational level

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and using sensors like
our perception suite

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that we have on our future MUSV,

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manned, unmanned surface vessel, as well,

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as with our long-range
unmanned surface vessels

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and integrating those unmanned platforms

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with manned platforms and the
network command and control

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with our system called Minotaur,

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which is a long-range
anti-surface warfare capability

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that's used at the operational level.

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Taking Odyssey autonomy and
AI at the edge for the boat,

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and then integrating with
Minotaur, is where we're going.

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So, for manned-unmanned teaming,

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what we want to have is
interoperable C4I solutions.

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So what you have on the
unmanned platform interoperates

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or is connected with the manned platforms.

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You have one type model series
of networks, communications,

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command control, and reliable data.

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And so these boats will be an extension

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of those manned platforms.

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They'll operate in the highly
contested and contested areas,

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allowing the manned platforms
to have extended reach

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for classification ID, situational
awareness, and targeting,

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as well as letting the manned platforms

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remain clear of hostile
weapon engagement zones.

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(lively electro-synth music)

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- My name's Mike Coulter.

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I'm the CEO of Hanwha Defense USA.

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Hanwha Defense USA is
a U.S. defense company

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that is focused on
bringing forward technology

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process capability from
our parent company,

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Hanwha, in Korea.

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Hanwha in Korea is the leading aerospace

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and defense company in Korea

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and one of the global
leading shipbuilders.

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So here at Sea-Air-Space in 2026,

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we are bringing forward the
capacity that we have in Korea

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and intend to bring to the United States.

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From a capability perspective,

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we have a portfolio of companies.

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So Hanwha Ocean is our shipyard in Korea.

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Hanwha Ocean.

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Last year, we acquired
Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

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We are in the early-stage process

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of bringing forward our capabilities

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from our shipyard in Korea to
our shipyard in Philadelphia

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to expand shipbuilding
capacity in the United States.

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Hanwha Defense USA is also
bringing forward at Sea-Air-Space

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our capability from Hanwha Aerospace,

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which, as a leading aerospace
and defense company in Korea,

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brings of interest to the Navy,

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munitions and missile capability.

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So we're showcasing our missile
and munitions capability.

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Similar to what we're doing
in Philly for a shipyard,

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we have announced a
munitions campus in Arkansas,

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where we're bringing munitions
capability from Korea

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to build here in the United
States to meet the needs

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of both U.S. Navy but
also other customers,

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including the U.S. Army.

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Hanwha, a leading aerospace
and defense company in Korea.

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Korea, a nation that has been
on war footing for 70 years,

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has been investing in ways

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that companies in the United States

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and elsewhere globally
have not been investing in.

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So, in addition to the
technology of the platforms,

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munitions that we're bringing,

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it's really the industrial capacity

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that we're focused on
bringing to the United States.

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So we want to be the most
efficient shipbuilder

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in the United States.

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The most efficient munitions
builder in the United States.

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The most efficient artillery
builder in the United States.

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To bring industrial strength
with American workforce,

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pulling technology process
automation from Korea

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into the United States
to support the U.S. Navy

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and the U.S. warfighter.

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We're a startup in the United States,

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but we have the strength
of an industrial-leading

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global company behind us in Korea.

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As such, we have the financial backing,

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industrial strength in Korea.

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But here in the United States,

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we're interested in becoming
a constructive disruptor

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that the U.S. customer is looking for.

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We are acting ways that they
have asked U.S. industry

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to get back onto a war footing,
leveraging our war footing,

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industrial strength in Korea,
but acting like a disruptor.

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So as you look around our booth this week,

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you will see investments
that we are making

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in industrial capacity United States,

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technology partnerships we
have with other disruptors.

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Like this morning, we
announced a partnership

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with Magnet Defense to
bring USV capability

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with munitions capability on
that USV to the United States.

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So we are intent on being
a constructive disruptor

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supporting the U.S. industrial
base and the U.S. warfighter.

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Yeah, here in our booth this week,

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we have above us an orange Goliath crane.

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These Goliath cranes are a
hallmark of our shipyard in Korea

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and now a hallmark of our
shipyard in Philadelphia.

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As we work to expand the
footprint in Philadelphia,

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you'll already find one orange crane.

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In coming years, you will
find more orange cranes.

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As we take Philadelphia from a shipyard

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that was producing one ship a year,

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today, just with Hanwha process,

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we're at three ships a year.

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We have a path to get us
to 10, 20 ships a year,

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more cranes, more people, but
then technology automation

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to increase the capacity
of U.S. shipbuilding

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in the United States.

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So our shipyard in Philadelphia right now

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largely does commercial
work, government work.

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We just received our first Navy contract,

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which is initial design
contract for the Navy,

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but we're in deep
discussions with the Navy,

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who's looking to increase
throughput of U.S. ships,

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everything from auxiliaries to
support ships to combatants,

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as we grow at that
capacity in Philadelphia.

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What are the right classes of
ships for us to be building?

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And we will be building U.S.
Navy ships in Philadelphia.

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At Hanwha in Korea, our shipyard in Korea

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produces one ship a week,
50-some ships a year.

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We will be bringing that
capacity to Philadelphia

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to expand to 10, 20 ships
a year in Philadelphia.

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Our munitions factory in
Korea similarly produces

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thousands of missiles,
munitions every year.

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We are intent on bringing that capability

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to the U.S. Navy warfighter
in Arkansas and beyond.

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And as we look forward to Hanwha's

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presence of the United States,
we look forward to expanding

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beyond Philadelphia, beyond Arkansas,

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to rebuild industrial strength

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and support the U.S. warfighter.

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- [Announcer] When we return,

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a look at a new large-payload
subsea drone from Anduril.

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Don't go away.

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(lively percussive music)

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Welcome back.

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Undersea drones are an emerging market

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in the defense industry.

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One company looking to
make waves in the space

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is Anduril Industries, which
brought its long-range,

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large-payload drone, the Dive-XL,

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to the Sea-Air-Space Conference.

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Here's a company representative

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with some details on the vessel.

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(pulsing electro-synth music)

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- I'm Andrew Nuss.

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I'm the head of growth and strategy

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for Anduril's Maritime Division,

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and I'm standing in front
of a model of our Dive-XL,

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which is our extra-large
autonomous undersea vehicle.

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This is a capability that
we've been developing

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for the last few years,

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and it started as a
partnership opportunity

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with the Royal Australian Navy

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as part of their Ghost Shark program.

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So this vehicle that
you see in front of you

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is the base product or the base vehicle

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that's part of that Ghost Shark program.

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That Ghost Shark program

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is a three-year collaborative research

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and development program
with the Australian Navy

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to realize the capability
of an extra-large

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autonomous undersea vehicle
and then all of the missions

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and capabilities that come
along with these vehicles.

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So that's integration into

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the command and control
environments, autonomy,

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and really, where this
kind of vehicle matters

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is the ability to carry large payloads

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or large amounts of payload.

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So these are long-range vehicles
that are payload trucks.

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These are systems that are designed

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to carry multiple
different types of payloads

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and help address operational challenges

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and missions for the Ghost Shark example

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for the Australian Navy, but
then also here in the U.S.

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with the Defense Innovation
Unit and the U.S. Navy.

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So this is a base capability

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that we've been developing
for the last few years.

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We have several of these
that are built right now

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in Australia, and with partnership
of the Australian Navy,

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we have moved into high-rate
production with these systems.

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So we were actively producing these

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in a factory that we have
in Australia right now.

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Similarly, we're partnered
with the U.S. Navy

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and the Defense Innovation
Unit on a program called CAMP.

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This is the Combat
Autonomous Maritime Platform.

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This is a program where
DIU went out to industry,

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specifically looking for
commercially available

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long-range, payload-capable vehicles.

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And that's where the Dive-XL
is, as a base platform,

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is the capability to
help address this need.

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So we announced back in
March that we're on contract

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with the Defense Innovation
Unit for this capability.

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That will allow Anduril to
demonstrate this vehicle

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for the U.S. Navy and for
DIU in the next few months,

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and do it in a manner that's
operationally relevant.

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So we're gonna integrate with sailors,

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some of the operational squadrons,

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and demonstrate real mission
capability with this platform

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to be able to show the
maturity of the system.

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And then similarly, in
partnership with the U.S. Navy,

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hopefully move into
high-rate production here

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by the end of the calendar year.

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This, again, is a payload truck.

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So we can integrate payloads
that Anduril designs

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and operates, as well as
payloads that are Navy partners

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or commercial partners design and operates

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as well as many other
third-party providers.

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So we're really excited
about this capability.

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This is the first chance

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that the U.S. Navy's had in a long time

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to really operationalize
large numbers of these systems

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and go solve some of these
kind of dull, boring,

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and kind of benign missions

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to be able to preserve the
capital assets that we have

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that are very exquisite and very capable.

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Go allow them to do
those high-end missions

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and allow these systems
to kind of help fill out

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some of those lower-end missions

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and operate as a combined force.

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(pulsing electro-synth music)

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- [Announcer] Up next,
more in naval autonomy.

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We stopped by the booth
for EvoLogics at SAS 2026

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to learn more about their Sonobot 5 USV.

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Have a look.

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(pulsing electro-synth music)

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- What you're looking at
here is the Sonobot 5 USV.

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This is a fully autonomous
unmanned surface vehicle,

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carbon-fiber construction, modular design.

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Payload options include, right here,

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a multibeam echosounder.

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We can have a side-scan sonar,
single-beam echosounder,

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or even one of our transceiver heads

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for tracking of underwater targets.

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Forward-looking camera,
single or dual GNSS,

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10-knot top speed, runtime
between eight and 10 hours.

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The genesis of this was
really novel bionics.

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Basically, in design, a
sleek, easy-to-transport,

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high-performance vehicle

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that could carry a number of
different payload options,

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be easy to deploy and operate.

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Depending on payload options,
you're looking at a weight

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of between 50 and 60
pounds, fully collapsible.

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This pontoon right here
rolls up under the wing

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and then the wing under the body itself,

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so it's easy to transport and deploy.

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And just a couple of clasps.

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Hot-swappable batteries right here,

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with lithium batteries
located in each pontoon.

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I can change these out
in about 20 seconds,

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so you can get a full workday out of it.

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If you need be, you can
swap those batteries out

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to extend runtime.

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Range would depend on some
of the communication options.

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The Silvus StreamCaster radio
right here could be operated

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with a standoff distance
of approximately 25 miles.

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Iridium satellite is actually also

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a communication option as well.

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Some of the key job tasks
that you might use this for

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would be SAR uses.

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Defense applications would
include ISR as well as MCM.

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These are used for
locating mine-like objects

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has an onboard AI target
recognition module.

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So it will actually go out

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00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:09,720
and make auto-recognition of targets

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that it discovers on side-scan sonar.

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Send that back real time
to operator stations

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for decision-making.

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Designed to operate in up to Sea State 3.

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So generally speaking, coastal
areas and inland waterways,

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I would say, is really where

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I think the sweet spot for
a vehicle like this is.

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So some of the customers
that are currently using this

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are tactical law enforcement uses,

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naval offices for survey, and
those that are actually in EOD

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00:17:37,620 --> 00:17:40,050
searching for mine-like
objects and so forth.

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This is actually designed
to operate individually,

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depending on need, or it
can operate in fleet swarm

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00:17:45,750 --> 00:17:47,107
capabilities as well.

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(pulsing electro-synth music)

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- [Announcer] When we come back,

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00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,860
Jeanette Mack from Navy
Federal Credit Union

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00:17:55,860 --> 00:17:58,560
returns with tips for long-term investing.

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Stay tuned.

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00:18:00,151 --> 00:18:03,651
(lively percussive music)

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00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:08,250
Welcome back.

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00:18:08,250 --> 00:18:09,870
On this edition of "Money Minute,"

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00:18:09,870 --> 00:18:12,300
Jeanette Mack from Navy
Federal Credit Union

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00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:15,360
is back to help you choose
between investing in an IRA

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00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:16,710
or the stock market.

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00:18:16,710 --> 00:18:17,543
Have a look.

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00:18:18,570 --> 00:18:19,860
- When planning for retirement,

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00:18:19,860 --> 00:18:21,750
you often have a decision to make.

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00:18:21,750 --> 00:18:23,670
Keep your money safer in an IRA

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00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:26,010
or invest in the stock market for growth.

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00:18:26,010 --> 00:18:28,170
Your decision comes down to what you want,

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00:18:28,170 --> 00:18:31,350
how much risk you're comfortable
with, and your timeline.

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00:18:31,350 --> 00:18:34,200
Keeping money in an IRA
is a low-risk option,

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00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,590
but growth may be limited
compared to investing in stocks.

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00:18:37,590 --> 00:18:41,280
Consistent contributions to
your IRA gives compound interest

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00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,590
the fuel to work over time.

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00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:47,160
Meanwhile, investing in stocks
may offer higher returns,

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00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:48,510
but there's more risk involved

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00:18:48,510 --> 00:18:50,580
because of market fluctuations.

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00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:52,620
That's where balance comes in.

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00:18:52,620 --> 00:18:54,720
Using IRA savings for stability

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00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,570
and investing for
amplified long-term savings

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00:18:57,570 --> 00:18:59,220
is a great formula.

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Whichever way you go, the
earlier you start, the better.

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00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,920
And as always, when it
comes to investment planning

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00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,350
and retirement, you
should always work with

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00:19:07,350 --> 00:19:09,120
a trusted financial advisor

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00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:11,433
before making any final decisions.

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00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:14,190
- [Announcer] To get
more coverage of military

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00:19:14,190 --> 00:19:17,250
and defense topics, set
your unmanned surface vessel

433
00:19:17,250 --> 00:19:21,330
to go spy on MilitaryTimes.com
and DefenseNews.com

434
00:19:21,330 --> 00:19:22,800
for more headlines.

435
00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,380
And to be the most up-to-date
sailor on the ship,

436
00:19:25,380 --> 00:19:27,360
sign up for our Early Bird Brief

437
00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:30,540
compiled each morning to bring
you the most recent news.

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00:19:30,540 --> 00:19:32,250
Finally, if social media

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00:19:32,250 --> 00:19:34,620
is where you collect
open-source intelligence,

440
00:19:34,620 --> 00:19:38,310
follow us on YouTube,
Facebook, Instagram, and X,

441
00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:41,160
and for you Gen Z troops, we're on TikTok,

442
00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,903
so go follow us there as well.

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00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,500
When we return, health
care and benefits updates

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00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:49,560
from the Military Officers
Association of America.

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00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,404
Don't go away.

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00:19:51,404 --> 00:19:54,904
(lively percussive music)

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00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,690
Welcome back to "Defense News Weekly."

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00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:03,060
Are you up to date on
the latest in health care

449
00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:05,580
and benefits news for troops and veterans?

450
00:20:05,580 --> 00:20:09,240
Our partners, the Military
Officers Association of America,

451
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:10,410
are here to help.

452
00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:11,283
Check it out.

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00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:14,040
- Now benefits and personnel news,

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00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,850
presented by the Military
Officers Association of America.

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00:20:17,850 --> 00:20:19,590
May is Military Appreciation Month,

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00:20:19,590 --> 00:20:21,090
and you know what that means.

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00:20:21,090 --> 00:20:22,470
Businesses across the nation

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00:20:22,470 --> 00:20:24,420
are starting to share special deals

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00:20:24,420 --> 00:20:26,850
for their service-connected customers.

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00:20:26,850 --> 00:20:28,380
Already announced their discounts

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00:20:28,380 --> 00:20:30,120
to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld,

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00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,330
a full list of zoos and
museums around the country.

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00:20:33,330 --> 00:20:36,960
Or maybe you wanna take the
family on a ski trip to Vail.

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00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,420
Mission BBQ is giving away free sandwiches

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00:20:39,420 --> 00:20:41,250
on select service days.

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00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:44,820
Even the newest service, Space
Force, has their own day.

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00:20:44,820 --> 00:20:48,450
We'll be updating the full list
as new deals are announced.

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00:20:48,450 --> 00:20:52,410
See them all at MOAA.org/MayDeals.

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00:20:52,410 --> 00:20:56,010
A Pentagon memo orders top
officials to make maximum use

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00:20:56,010 --> 00:20:59,310
of military spouse
employment flexibilities.

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00:20:59,310 --> 00:21:01,380
This move could open more opportunities

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00:21:01,380 --> 00:21:03,810
to a chronically underemployed workforce

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00:21:03,810 --> 00:21:05,850
and help strengthen the
financial well-being

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00:21:05,850 --> 00:21:07,770
of military families.

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00:21:07,770 --> 00:21:11,820
The April message cites the
staggering 20% unemployment rate

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00:21:11,820 --> 00:21:14,010
for military spouses.

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00:21:14,010 --> 00:21:16,260
The Department of War's
being ordered to approve

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00:21:16,260 --> 00:21:19,320
alternative worksites for
spouses whose service member

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00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,590
may be on assignment outside
their commuting area.

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00:21:22,590 --> 00:21:26,550
This could open the door to
more remote work opportunities.

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00:21:26,550 --> 00:21:29,520
The Pentagon's goal is to
reduce spouse unemployment

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00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,513
by 5% this year through its
own employment practices.

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00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,260
Four of the military's top
senior enlisted leaders

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00:21:37,260 --> 00:21:39,930
are gathering May 8th, and you're invited.

485
00:21:39,930 --> 00:21:42,660
The Senior Enlisted Leaders
Forum is a 90-minute webinar

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00:21:42,660 --> 00:21:43,560
with David Isom,

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00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,650
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,

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00:21:46,650 --> 00:21:48,900
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer,

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00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:50,370
MCPON John Perryman,

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00:21:50,370 --> 00:21:53,670
and Chief Master Sergeant of
the Air Force David Wolfe.

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00:21:53,670 --> 00:21:56,310
The leaders will address
challenges and opportunities

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00:21:56,310 --> 00:21:59,070
for today's service
member and their families.

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00:21:59,070 --> 00:22:02,280
This event is open to the full
military-connected community,

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00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:03,780
including currently serving members,

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00:22:03,780 --> 00:22:07,230
senior leaders and command
teams, veterans and retirees,

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00:22:07,230 --> 00:22:09,000
and military families.

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00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,440
To register for the free event,

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00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,430
visit MOAA.org/SeniorEnlisted.

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00:22:14,430 --> 00:22:17,250
The Army has announced
details of a new seven-event

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00:22:17,250 --> 00:22:21,030
Combat Field Test designed to
ensure soldiers can dominate

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00:22:21,030 --> 00:22:22,950
the modern battlefield.

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00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:26,190
Rolling out now, the test
is required of active duty

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00:22:26,190 --> 00:22:30,090
and reservists in two
dozen combat specialties.

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00:22:30,090 --> 00:22:33,060
Test-takers will have 30
minutes to complete the test

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00:22:33,060 --> 00:22:35,700
that begins and ends with a one-mile run.

506
00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:38,640
In between, a soldier will
perform a variety of carries,

507
00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,100
lifts, sprints, and a high crawl.

508
00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:44,940
The pass/fail test is a single
standard regardless of age,

509
00:22:44,940 --> 00:22:47,280
height, weight, or gender.

510
00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:51,270
Test-takers will wear the ACU,
combat boots, and T-shirt.

511
00:22:51,270 --> 00:22:54,900
Active duty troops have 90
days to retake a failed test

512
00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:57,243
or will be subject to reclassification.

513
00:22:58,260 --> 00:23:02,133
For more benefits and
personnel news, visit MOAA.org.

514
00:23:03,420 --> 00:23:04,860
- [Announcer] Well, that's
all the time we have

515
00:23:04,860 --> 00:23:05,880
in this episode.

516
00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,555
Thanks for joining us, and
we'll see you next week.

517
00:23:08,555 --> 00:23:12,305
(dramatic orchestral music)