Participation in Korea's Largest Maritime Defense Exhibition Draws Crowds of Foreign Delegations
Korea's Only High-Speed Landing Craft Builder Hits the Mark with Marketing
"Inundated with Consultations"
The world is turning its attention to the high-speed landing craft built by HJ Heavy Industries.
At the 2025 International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX), where HJ Heavy Industries (CEO Sangchul Yoo) participated for the first time, the company attracted the attention of foreign delegations and visitors, raising expectations for potential contract awards.
From May 28 to 31, HJ Heavy Industries took part in MADEX 2025 at BEXCO in Busan, showcasing its shipbuilding technologies and targeting overseas export markets.
MADEX is the largest maritime defense exhibition in Korea, hosted by the Navy, and is an international event where the latest defense technologies and weapon systems are on full display.
With numerous domestic and international defense companies participating, the HJ Heavy Industries exhibition booth was crowded daily with foreign buyers, delegations from various countries, and visitors. It was reported that discussions with some overseas buyers even reached the level of Letters of Intent (LOI).
At this event, HJ Heavy Industries introduced the Marado-class ship, Dokdo-class ship, high-speed landing craft (LSF-II), guided missile patrol gunboat (PKG), and a 3,000-ton Coast Guard vessel. Among these, the main focus was on the air-cushion high-speed landing craft.
The high-speed landing craft operates by injecting air into the skirt (airbag) at the bottom of the hull to generate buoyancy, giving it characteristics closer to aircraft technology than traditional ships. The hull is made of aluminum, and its construction requires advanced design, building, and maintenance technologies, including lightweight and aerodynamic propulsion systems.
HJ Heavy Industries is the only shipbuilder in Korea with the capability to build high-speed landing craft, and vessels delivered 20 years ago are still in active service today.
The high-speed landing craft unveiled for the first time at this exhibition drew interest from delegations not only from the Middle East?including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Cameroon?but also from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam. On May 30, delegations from Australia and the United Arab Emirates visited the Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan to directly inspect the production site and the high-speed landing craft under construction.
CEO Sangchul Yoo stated, "The high-speed landing craft is an all-weather vessel capable of high-speed maneuvering at up to 74 km/h and can land on approximately 80% of the world's coastlines. We will continue aggressive contract activities with the goal of expanding the overseas reach of K-defense."
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