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HD Hyundai and SIMA Unveil HDS-MGP Submarine Vision for Peruvian Navy
- Published on 22/07/2026
- By Naval News Staff
- In News
Scale model of the HDS-1500 during SITDEF 2015. The future submarine is set to feature a length of 65 meters and a displacement of 1500 tons.HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Peru’s SIMA Shipyard have presented the HDS-MGP (Hyundai Design Submarine – Marina de Guerra del Perú) next-generation submarine design, aiming to establish a regional submarine construction and MRO hub in Latin America following successful basic design completion.
On Tuesday, July 14, the “Presentation of the Vision for the Construction of Peru’s Next-Generation Submarine” was held at the Peruvian Navy Headquarters. The event provided an important opportunity to present the achievements of the joint submarine development program, explain the platform’s technical strengths, and share our common vision with senior representatives of the Peruvian Navy.
Both HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Peruvian Navy and SIMA presented the progress achieved to date, demonstrating that the principle of joint development has been faithfully incorporated into every stage of the program and its implementation schedule.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has a clear objective for Peru’s submarine program: to enable SIMA to construct and maintain the HDS-MGP submarine independently and, together with local industrial partners, establish a self-sustaining submarine industrial ecosystem.
Peru is one of Latin America’s most accomplished submarine-operating nations. Drawing on decades of accumulated experience, it has provided neighboring countries with submarine operations education and training. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will work alongside Peru so that these capabilities can extend beyond submarine operations and lead to genuine competitiveness in submarine construction and exports.
Jointly developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and SIMA, the HDS-MGP is a next-generation submarine that combines advanced performance, proven operational expertise, and a design tailored specifically to the maritime conditions of Latin America.
The marine environment of Latin America has distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other regions of the world. These operating conditions directly affect submarine performance requirements and operational concepts. Accordingly, the extensive operational experience and specific requirements of the Peruvian Navy have been actively incorporated into the HDS-MGP design.
Building on these strengths, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and SIMA are also exploring opportunities to introduce the HDS-MGP to other markets across Latin America.
Over the long term, SIMA has the potential to develop not only into a submarine construction center but also into a regional hub for submarine maintenance, repair, overhaul, and integrated logistics support. This development would create local employment, promote the growth of associated industries, and contribute to Peru’s broader economic and GDP growth.
For the record, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a joint production contract with SIMA Shipyard for the local construction of four ships back in April 2024, valued at 640.6 billion KRW, the largest defense export deal in Latin America’s history. The Korean shipbuilder then signed a MoU with Peru’s SIMA Shipyard for joint submarine development in November 2024. The “Joint Development Agreement for a Next-Generation Submarine” was formally signed in December 2025.
Since launching their strategic partnership in 2024, the two organizations have achieved significant results within a remarkably short period. The BALOG amphibious vessel is scheduled to be launched this year, while the HDS-MGP submarine program has completed its basic design phase and is progressing toward the next stage: a contract for joint construction.
Check out our coverage of the future submarine for Peru during SITDEF 2025:
