HD Hyundai Heavy Industries NAVAL & MEDIUM SIZE SHIPS

Collaborating with SIMA Shipyard, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries develops Peru-specific submarine for deep-sea operations, targeting regional markets

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will begin designing a customized submarine for the Peruvian Navy starting next January. Based on the experience gained from this project, the company plans to introduce a ‘K-Submarine’ export model to the global market, including Central and South America where Peru is located.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on the 21st that it signed a ‘Next-Generation Submarine Joint Development Contract’ with the Peruvian Navy and SIMA Shipyard at the state-owned SIMA Shipyard in Lima, Peru, on the 19th. As a follow-up measure to the ‘Letter of Intent for Joint Development and Joint Construction of Submarines’ signed during the APEC period in Gyeongju last November, the focus was first placed on submarine design. The design will begin next January and the project will proceed for 11 months.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Peruvian government aim to create a ‘Peruvian-type next-generation submarine’ to replace aging existing submarines. In particular, they plan to build a customized submarine suitable for the local conditions in Peru. The areas where the Peruvian Navy mainly operates are deep seas with depths exceeding 3,000 meters, unlike the waters around the Korean Peninsula. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries decided to create a Peru-specific design that incorporates the latest weapons, equipment, and communication systems, taking these environmental factors into account. The designed submarine will be jointly constructed locally by SIMA Shipyard, Peru’s largest state-owned shipyard, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

“This project is not just a simple sale of submarines, but a sophisticated model that develops and constructs customized submarines that specifically accommodate customer requirements,” a Park Yong Yeol, Senior Executive Vice President of Naval Ship Division said. “Through this contract, we plan to participate as a key partner in Peru’s submarine business and target the Central and South American submarine market in the future.”

Peruvian President Jose Jeri directly attended the contract signing ceremony. This project is considered a core part of the current Peruvian government’s strategy to modernize naval forces and strengthen shipbuilding industry capabilities. “This contract between SIMA Shipyard and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is not only a symbol of strengthening Peru’s shipbuilding industry but also a substantial and strategic cooperation between Peru and the Republic of Korea,” he said. “Peru will proceed with this project with strong determination.”

The contract was also evaluated to have been significantly supported by government-level cooperation, including the Ministry of National Defense and Navy’s review of providing retired vessels, as well as support from DAPA and the South Korean Embassy in Peru. Prior to the submarine cooperation, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a contract with Peru in April last year to build three types of surface ships, totaling four vessels, establishing a defense industry cooperation relationship with Peru.