Hanwha Defense USA is considering a major expansion of its US naval shipbuilding presence through a proposed acquisition of Austal USA valued at up to $1.2 billion. Austal confirmed receiving a non-binding and conditional offer that places the indicative enterprise value of its US business between $1.05 billion and $1.2 billion. The proposal is still subject to due diligence, and Austal’s board has authorized Hanwha to examine the business further. No definitive sale agreement has been signed. The offer would apply only to Austal’s US operations and would not include the company’s Australian business or publicly traded shares. Austal USA builds vessels for the US Navy and Coast Guard and supports submarine-related activities, with major facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and San Diego, California. If completed, the acquisition would strengthen Hanwha’s position in the US defense industrial base. The potential deal comes as major defense contractors increasingly use acquisitions to expand into specialized technologies, including maritime systems, undersea warfare, mission software, encryption, and aerospace technologies.
