The company has been expanding aggressively in the U.S. defense and shipbuilding sectors. Hanwha Ocean acquired the Philadelphia shipyard in 2024 and won a conceptual design contract in April for the U.S. Navy's next-generation logistics ship program, laying the groundwork for broader entry into the American naval market. Michael Coulter, who oversees Hanwha's U.S. defense business, previously said the company is considering acquiring additional shipyards in the United States because existing facilities in Philadelphia may not be sufficient to meet future manufacturing demand. Canada has also emerged as a major strategic target for Hanwha. The Canadian government is pursuing the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a submarine procurement initiative valued at about 60 trillion won, or approximately $43.8 billion. Hanwha Ocean is participating in the bidding process through a consortium with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. If Hanwha wins the project, Hanwha Aerospace plans to establish a joint venture with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association to locally produce K9 self-propelled howitzers in Canada. In Europe, Hanwha is expanding production capabilities centered on Poland. Hanwha Aerospace established a joint venture last year with WB Electronics, Poland's largest private defense company, and plans to complete a local production facility by 2029 to manufacture CGR-080 guided missiles for the Polish military's Homar-K system. The company is also discussing local production of K9 howitzers with partners in Spain. Hanwha's ambitions increasingly extend beyond defense manufacturing into aerospace and satellite services. The group aims to create a comprehensive space value chain integrating launch vehicles, satellites, data and related services. Under the strategy, Hanwha Aerospace would oversee launch vehicles and aircraft engines, while Hanwha Systems would handle satellite manufacturing and satellite data services. Hanwha recently acquired a 5.09% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries, becoming its fourth-largest shareholder, and has announced plans to increase the stake to 8% within the year. Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea's only fully integrated aircraft manufacturer, is viewed as strategically important in both defense and aerospace sectors. Industry observers said Hanwha could expand cooperation with Korea Aerospace Industries in areas including advanced aircraft engines and integrated operating systems for future production models of the KF-21 fighter jet. -- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI © Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited. Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260508010001673