Hanwha Philly Shipyard awarded $2B contract to build 2 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, announced by White House OMB Director Russ Vought. The ships will replace the aging Pacific Tracker (built 1965) and Pacific Collector (built 1970), which monitor ballistic missile tests in the Pacific for the Missile Defense Agency. The first vessel, named 'Golden Defender,' is scheduled for delivery in June 2030 and will support President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system. TOTE Services will serve as vessel construction manager. The announcement came during the christening of the DOT's fourth national security multi-mission vessel, Lone Star State, at the Philadelphia shipyard.