(PHILADELPHIA) — Hanwha Philly Shipyard and TOTE Services, a leading U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, on Friday announced they have been selected to deliver the Missile Defense Agency’s missile range instrumentation vessels (MRIVs).
TOTE Services will serve as vessel construction manager (VCM) and Hanwha Philly will build the ships at its Philadelphia shipyard. The MRIVs will replace Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector, which currently support missile range instrumentation missions and were constructed in 1965 and 1970, respectively.
The selection of a VCM for the MRIV program comes as the federal government sharpens its focus on rebuilding the U.S. maritime industrial base, with shipbuilding capacity now recognized as a major national security priority.
TOTE Services and Hanwha Philly will use the same commercially managed VCM model they are currently deploying under the national security multi-mission vessel (NSMV) program for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd). That five-vessel program has already delivered three ships, with the fourth, Lone Star State, christened Friday and set for delivery in the coming months, and the fifth and final vessel expected in mid-2027. The NSMV program has demonstrated how commercial management brings stronger cost control, schedule performance, and execution to complex vessel classes.
Speaking at the christening of Lone Star State, Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced the award.
“It is thus my honor to announce the awarding of a contract to build the newest missile range instrumentation vessel, Golden Defender, right here in Philadelphia under the combined management of Hanwha Philly and TOTE Services as the vessel construction manager,” Vought said. “This new ship will not only support (President Trump’s) policy of restoring America’s maritime dominance, but also support the president’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system over the entirety of our nation. Golden Defender will serve the Missile Defense Agency in this mission.”
“What an incredible day for the nation’s maritime industry. In christening the Lone Star State, we are sending a message that the next generation of maritime leaders are worth investing in,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “I want to also thank Director Vought for his leadership in spearheading the president’s maritime dominance objectives. These two new vessels – built by American patriots in the city our nation was founded in – will equip our military to better protect the nation and our service members from foreign threats.”
“Hanwha is excited to build new versions of the national security multi-mission vessel to support such a critical defense function for our homeland,” said Michael Coulter, president and CEO of Hanwha Defense USA. “With these new ships, Hanwha Philly Shipyard is continuing to evolve in complexity as we look to deliver on our ambition to become a premier U.S. shipbuilder. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are building the next generation of our nation’s ships in the same city where America built its first Navy ships.”
“Philadelphia has a long history of building ships that serve our nation, and our team is proud to carry that legacy forward,” said David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard. “This program demonstrates what is possible when proven designs, a skilled workforce, and strong government-industry collaboration come together. We look forward to delivering these vessels with the quality, reliability, and commitment our customers expect.”
“The missile range instrumentation vessel advances our national security as a centerpiece of the administration’s Golden Dome for America initiative. TOTE Services’ vessel construction management model has proven to be a success in the national security multi-mission vessel program from the Department of Transportation and MarAd. Our team will bring that same skill, urgency and process to meet the moment and the mission,” said Jeff Dixon, president of TOTE Services. “The MRIV program is a direct result of the ingenuity and coordination of the federal interagency team from the Department of War, Missile Defense Agency, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Transportation, MarAd, and all of the government leaders who have championed this approach. Together, we will deliver the next generation of U.S. defense capability and we are honored to be selected for this critical shipbuilding program.”
Hanwha Philly will build the MRIV using the proven hull form, active production line, existing supply chain, and skilled workforce already in place at its yard, under the existing VCM contract vehicle between MarAd and TOTE Services. This project will be executed as an interagency collaboration between the Department of Transportation, Department of War, and the Missile Defense Agency. The first MRIV is scheduled for delivery in 2030.
“MRIV engineering and construction will make immediate progress from day one, as we are carrying forward the production processes and lessons learned from NSMV, which lowers cost, schedule, and performance risk,” said Chris Clark, vice president of new construction, TOTE Services. “We are excited to move this critical program forward. The VCM provides the guidance and steady support that delivers world-class ships for the American people.”
The VCM approach used in this program offers significant advantages over traditional government acquisition strategies, reducing acquisition costs by at least 50 percent. By defining requirements upfront and approving change orders quickly, the model also accelerates delivery timelines and ensures the vessels are mission-ready upon delivery.
That success extends beyond the vessels themselves. The NSMV program transformed Hanwha Philly Shipyard from a dormant yard with a few dozen workers into a robust national security asset now employing more than 2,000 production workers. The MRIV award builds directly on that momentum, bringing new defense construction work to the yard and positioning it for continued growth as the nation rebuilds its shipbuilding capacity.
– Hanwha Philly Shipyard
