Hanwha Philly Shipyard awarded $2 billion contract to build two missile-tracking vessels for Pentagon

Published Jul 21, 03:14 PM UTC

The Hanwha Philly Shipyard has been awarded a $2 billion contract to build two Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIVs) for the Pentagon, as announced by White House OMB Director Russ Vought. The ships, named 'Golden Defender' and a second unnamed vessel, will replace the aging Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector (built in 1965 and 1970). The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in June 2030 and will support the Missile Defense Agency's ballistic missile test monitoring in the Pacific, as well as President Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. TOTE Services will serve as vessel construction manager. The announcement was made during the christening of the DOT's fourth national security multi-mission vessel, Lone Star State, at the Philadelphia shipyard.