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Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), a subsidiary of 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. The contract was reported by Yonhap and the Korea Times on Oct. 30, 2026. In related news, Korean shipyards have won maintenance contracts for at least six of the U.S. Navy's 14 cargo supply ships over the past two years, according to Business Korea. HDUSA is also set to acquire a controlling stake in Hanwha Philly Shipyard as part of an internal restructuring to strengthen its U.S. naval presence, as reported by the Korea Times and Yonhap on Oct. 27-28. Korean media frame these wins as part of a broader defense industry push into the U.S. market, with Hanwha's potential acquisition of Korea Aerospace Industries also seen as a boost for the sector.