The pilot follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the two firms in 2025 and places the systems in unit-fabrication areas of the yard. Ingalls says the machines have been checked against existing US Navy fabrication standards, and the pilot will be used to identify where efficiency can be improved. The company also recently announced a High-Yield Production Robotics initiative pairing it with physical AI firms, and signed production agreements with Path Robotics and GrayMatter Robotics on 6 August. Hanwha purchased the Philly Shipyard in 2024, and Korean firms have taken US Navy vessels into their yards for maintenance and repair work under the Master Ship Repair Agreement framework. Legislation restricting the construction of US warships in foreign yards means cooperation has instead focused on technology transfer, repair work and investment on American soil.