Hanwha shows M38/M48 unmanned surface vessel and containerized Chunmoo and K-VLS launchers at AUSA 2026

Hanwha Defense USA displayed a model of the M38 medium unmanned surface vessel, developed with US autonomy firm Magnet Defense, at the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington on October 12, 2026, after the parent vessel arrived at National Harbor following sea trials. The 38-metre M38 is the primary test platform and the 48-metre M48, for which steel has been cut, is the planned production standard; Magnet Defense claims a demonstrated range of 17,000 nautical miles including a Pacific crossing in up to Sea State 9. Hanwha builds the vessel and integrates weapons while Magnet handles navigation autonomy. Alongside the vessel Hanwha showed four containerized launcher concepts: a 20-foot Chunmoo container with two pods for CGR-080, CTM-MR, CTM-160 anti-ship ballistic, CTM-290 or CTM-X rounds; a 20-foot compact K-VLS container with four cells for K-SAAM; a 40-foot K-VLS I container for K-ASROC, SSM-700K cruise missiles and K-SAAM; and a 40-foot K-VLS II container for L-SAM and larger missiles. The program targets the US Navy's medium USV market and export customers; no contract was announced.