U.S. President Trump Requests SOS for K-Maritime and Defense Industry, Sparking Increased Attention on MADEX

As U.S. President Donald Trump calls for assistance in rebuilding the U.S. naval power, attention is turning toward the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX), Korea’s largest maritime defense exhibition. With global nations expected to attend in large numbers to view the latest technologies showcased by companies such as Hanwha Group, HD Hyundai, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a fierce competition for contracts and cutting-edge technological battles is anticipated in the future.

According to industry sources, over four days from the 28th to the 31st, more than 200 defense companies and institutions from 14 countries will participate in MADEX, which will be held at BEXCO in Haeundae, Busan, marking the largest-scale exhibition in its history. This year’s exhibition has garnered even more attention than previous years.

The exhibition is particularly significant as it is the first to take place after the U.S. Trump administration extended an invitation to the Korean maritime and defense industry, and with key officials from 30 countries—including the U.S.—set to attend, domestic companies are preparing in unprecedented ways.

At this exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, in collaboration with LIG Nex1, will operate a booth shaped around next-generation stealth warships. The exhibition will be divided into three themes: domestic warships, export warships, and future warships.

In the domestic warship section, the booth will feature the Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX), currently under development based on the King Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyer designed and built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. In the export warship section, a 6,500-ton ocean-going frigate, developed to secure competitiveness in global markets like Saudi Arabia, will be unveiled for the first time, along with frigates exported to the Philippines and Peru.

Hanwha Defense's three affiliates (Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Systems) will operate a joint exhibition booth, showcasing eight warships equipped with the latest and next-generation technologies, including two unmanned warships, three surface warships, and three submarines. In the unmanned warship section, the combat unmanned submersible (UUV) and unmanned power command and control ship will be exhibited. In the surface ship section, the advanced KDDX Korean destroyer, the latest Ulsan-class Batch-IV frigate, and the Thai export frigate will be showcased. In the submarine section, a variety of models, including 2,000-ton, 2,800-ton, and 3,600-ton submarines, will be revealed. Notably, the 3,600-ton submarine, the first in the world to be equipped with both air-independent propulsion (AIP) and lithium-ion batteries, boasts the best submerged endurance among existing diesel submarines.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), along with LIG Nex1, plans to sign an MOU for technical cooperation on the development of a multi-purpose unmanned power flagship. With POSCO, KAI will also sign an MOU to develop new materials for the next-generation warship hulls, setting the stage for full-scale R&D on next-generation warships.

Industry Anticipates Increased Exports as Political Commitments to Foster K-Defense Strengthen

With the early presidential election scheduled for June 3, all major presidential candidates have pledged to foster the K-defense industry, which is expected to lead to additional large-scale exports if national support is provided.

Furthermore, as domestic companies are aggressively targeting the Polish market, additional orders are likely to follow the results of the upcoming Polish presidential election next month.

Yang Seung-yun, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, stated, "Once the political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential elections in both Korea and Poland is removed, the likelihood of delayed contracts being finalized increases." He also added, "At the NATO summit in Europe, there is a high possibility that defense spending targets will be revised upward, which significantly increases the chances of large-scale orders for 'K-maritime defense'."

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