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Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), a subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, has secured a $269 million contract to build a medium landing ship (LSM) for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, marking its first such award. Yonhap and the Korea Times report the deal on Oct. 30, 2026. The win follows HDUSA's plan to acquire a controlling stake in Hanwha Philly Shipyard as part of an internal restructuring to strengthen its U.S. naval business, reported by the Korea Times on Oct. 28. Korean media frame this as part of a broader defense export push, with the Korea Times noting on Oct. 28 that Hanwha's potential acquisition of Korea Aerospace Industries could boost the country's aerospace and defense industry globally. Korean reactions are not detailed in the supplied documents, which focus on corporate announcements rather than public sentiment.