HD Hyundai & Palantir Reveal 'Tenebris' Advanced AI-driven Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Palantir Technologies collaborate on Tenebris, a medium Unmanned Surface Vessel combining cutting-edge AI with advanced modular design for diverse maritime missions.

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and American software company Palantir Technologies have unveiled their collaborative venture: the Tenebris medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV). This initiative, announced a month after their collaboration was made public, aims to meet the demands set by emerging U.S. programs and initiatives for unmanned systems.

In an interview with Naval News at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington, D.C., Brandon Yoon, a representative from HD HHI, introduced the Tenebris USV. This innovative vessel, developed through the partnership of HD Hyundai and Palantir, is set to be completed by 2026, currently undergoing the concept design stage.

The Tenebris USV measures 17 meters in length, weighs 14 tons, and is designed to operate in sea state six at a speed of 50 knots, with an operational range of at least 1000 nautical miles. One notable feature is the "AI Bridge," housing sensors and software for operation. The concept model showcased at the expo included a remote control weapons system and eight launching tubes for loitering munitions. Tenebris's modular design aims to support various missions, including mine hunting and electronic warfare, with payloads of up to two tons.

HD HHI is responsible for the vessel's design and systems integration, while Palantir handles the artificial intelligence and software aspects. Leveraging Palantir's battlefield-proven systems, Tenebris will feature autonomous capabilities for mission planning, navigation, fleet management, and unmanned maritime autonomy architecture.

Robert Morrissey from Palantir emphasized their role in software and AI integration, highlighting its significance for the U.S. Navy's autonomy and target recognition goals. Although the intended customer for Tenebris was not disclosed, early conversations with the U.S. Navy suggest interest in the concept to meet interoperability and capability requirements.

When asked about the distinguishing factor of their joint project, Palantir underscored the importance of software capabilities, envisioning it as pivotal for the Navy's open, interoperable Command and Control (C2) capability across Tenebris and other acquired systems.

HD HHI and Palantir aim to fully develop the Tenebris concept by 2026, with an initial focus on reconnaissance. Subsequent variants specialized for combat roles are planned to follow.

In summary, the collaboration between HD Hyundai and Palantir represents a significant step forward in the development of unmanned surface vessels, leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet evolving maritime challenges.