TOTE Services and Hanwha Philly Shipyard have been chosen to build the next-generation Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIV) for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. This will continue the commercial shipbuilding approach already used for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program.
According to the announcement made on Friday, TOTE Services will act as the vessel construction manager (VCM), while Hanwha Philly Shipyard will construct the vessels at its shipyard in Philadelphia. These new ships will replace the older Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector, which started operating in 1965 and 1970, respectively, and will aid in missile testing and tracking missions for the Missile Defense Agency.
The first vessel will be named Golden Defender and is expected to be delivered in 2030.
This announcement was made during the christening ceremony for the NSMV Lone Star State, where Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, connected the new ships to the Trump administration’s broader shipbuilding and missile defense plans.
“I am honored to announce the contract for the new Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel ‘Golden Defender’ to be built right here in Philadelphia, managed by Hanwha Philly and TOTE Services,” said Vought. “This ship will support the President’s policy of restoring America’s Maritime Dominance and the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system across the nation.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented that these vessels will enhance the U.S. maritime industrial base and the national defense.
“These new vessels – built by dedicated Americans in the birthplace of our nation – will help protect our military and our country from foreign threats,” Duffy stated.
The program will use the same vessel construction management model that TOTE Services and Hanwha Philly Shipyard have successfully used for MARAD’s five-ship NSMV program. So far, three vessels have been delivered, the fourth was just christened, and the fifth is expected in 2027.
Instead of following the traditional government procurement method, the VCM approach puts a commercial construction manager in charge of coordinating shipyards, designers, suppliers, and government stakeholders. Supporters claim this model improves cost management, schedules, and execution by applying commercial shipbuilding practices to government projects.
Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services, mentioned that the company will apply the same approach to the new missile defense vessels.
“The Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel is key to our national security, supporting the Administration’s Golden Dome for America initiative,” Dixon said. “Our vessel construction management model has shown success in the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel program, and we’ll bring that same expertise and urgency to this mission.”
Michael Coulter, President and CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, expressed excitement about building new versions of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel to fulfill this essential defense role.
“Hanwha is thrilled to build new vessels that support such a critical defense function for our homeland,” said Coulter. “These ships demonstrate that Hanwha Philly Shipyard is evolving as we aim to become a leading U.S. shipbuilder.”
The project will involve collaboration between the Department of Transportation, Department of War, and the Missile Defense Agency, using the existing VCM contract between MARAD and TOTE Services. The companies expect that leveraging the current NSMV production line, supply chain, and workforce will help reduce costs, schedules, and technical risks.
This award adds to the list of major government shipbuilding projects managed by TOTE Services.
Just last week, the company was chosen to manage the construction of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ new Medium Landing Ship fleet, with a vessel construction management contract worth up to $2.2 billion. Similar to the MRIV program, the Navy’s Medium Landing Ship project will use a commercial construction manager for coordination instead of the traditional government-led procurement model.
For Hanwha Philly Shipyard, this award is a significant addition to its growing order book since acquiring the former Philly Shipyard in late 2024. Besides completing the NSMV program, the yard is also building LNG-fueled container ships for Matson, LNG carriers, and product tankers under the Jones Act. Hanwha has also announced plans to invest billions to expand the Philadelphia facility as part of a larger effort to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding capacity.