Hanwha Ocean strengthens partnership with WB Group for Poland’s Orka Submarine Program

Hanwha Ocean strengthens partnership with WB Group on the Orka Submarine Program
Polish President Andrzej Sebastian Duda (second from right) visits Hanwha's exhibition booth at MSPO2024 in Kielce, Poland with Steve Jeong (second from left), Vice President of Hanwha Ocean, and Jae-il Son (first from right), CEO and President of Hanwha Aerospace. (Hanwha photo)
Hanwha Ocean announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Polish company WB Electronics at the MSPO 2024 defense exhibition, which was held in Targi Kielce, Poland from September 3 to 6 to enhance collaboration on the Polish Navy's Orka submarine program.
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Hanwha Ocean press release

The MOU, which was signed by Steve Jeong, Vice President of Hanwha Ocean and Adam Bartosiewicz, Vice-President of WB Electronics, is aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework regarding MRO(Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) of the submarines acquired by the Orka program.

Based on the agreement, the two companies will forge ways to collaborate on mutually interested technology areas with respect to MRO of the Orka submarines. Additionally, it will serve as a stepping-stone for the two companies to facilitate exploration for subsequent agreements among their respective industrial partners to conduct the transfer of specific MRO capabilities.

Attending the ceremony were not only the representatives of Hanwha Ocean and WB Electronics, but also KOLON SPACEWORKS and KTE, Hanwha Ocean’s major partner companies involved in the KSS-III Batch II submarine provided to the ROK Navy to express their willingness to participate in the Orka program.

Hanwha Ocean strengthens partnership with WB Group on the Orka Submarine Program
Adam Bartosiewicz (right), , Vice-President of WB Group, a leading Polish defense contractor, and Steve Jeong, Vice President of Hanwha Ocean, sign an MOU. (Hanwha photo)

Following the MOU signing, Hanwha Ocean proposed to the Polish companies and government representatives an over-arching plan for technology transfer related to localizing submarine MRO along with broader initiatives encompassing both shipbuilding technology and sectors that go beyond shipbuilding. Subsequently, KOLON SPACEWORKS briefed on its plan for transfer of composite material technology in collaboration with WBCK, an affiliate of WB Electronics.

“This MOU will pave the way for solidifying partnerships with the Polish companies to foster their independent MRO capabilities. I am confident that WB Electronics, with its expertise in defense solution, will be a strong ally of Hanwha Ocean in the course of the Polish Orka Submarine program.”

Steve Jeong, Vice President of Hanwha Ocean

Over the past 40 years, Hanwha Ocean has successfully achieved over 80% of domestic production during the development and construction process of the KSS-III Batch II submarine, thanks to its continuous efforts for technological independence. Building upon this expertise, Hanwha Ocean seeks to support the Polish industry and shipyards to conduct MRO independently in the future. As part of such efforts, Hanwha Ocean hosted Industry Day in Gdansk, in May, to promote interactions between its industrial partners and the Polish companies and to vitalize technological collaborations to build a sustainable supply chain.

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