From FCL to SAP, SCI and COMSEC…Preparing for U.S. Navy classified programs
After its first contract, expanding security infrastructure…a test for integrating allied shipyards
Hanwha Group’s Philadelphia shipyard has moved past simply applying for a Facility Clearance (FCL) and started building the security infrastructure needed for U.S. classified ship programs, including Special Access Programs (SAP), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) handling, and communications security (COMSEC). The development has drawn attention as U.S.-South Korea discussions on nuclear-powered submarines intensify and as officials consider expanding the role of allied shipyards on U.S. soil.
According to a job posting for Hanwha Philly Shipyard verified by this outlet on the 28th, the yard is recruiting a Facility Security Officer (FSO), a defense-security specialist. The posting states the FSO’s primary responsibility will be to build the full FCL package and approval process from initial submission through final authorization.
Importantly, the posting outlines a high level of security requirements. It lists mitigation for foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI), Special Access Programs (SAP), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), COMSEC, and management of subcontract security requirements (DD254). That scope indicates the shipyard is preparing for highly classified platforms, not only conventional surface combatants.
Facility Clearances are granted by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) under the Department of Defense and are among the core qualifications needed to work on classified ship programs. Commercial yards typically take 12 to 18 months to obtain an FCL.
First U.S. Navy contract won…a foothold for classified work
Since acquiring the yard in December 2024, Hanwha has invested more than 300 billion KRW (approximately $225 million) to upgrade personnel and facilities. In March, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, together with U.S. naval architect Vard Marine US, won the design contract for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation logistics ship (T-AOL). That was the yard’s first participation in a U.S. Navy contract. Tom Anderson, president of Hanwha Defense USA’s shipbuilding division, described the award as an important first step to demonstrate world-class shipbuilding capability for the Navy’s needs.
The T-AOL design contract is unclassified and does not require an FCL. Hanwha Ocean previously won a U.S. Navy logistics-ship maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract at its Geoje shipyard in 2024 and has completed multiple maintenance projects, building an operational track record with the Navy.
Classified-ship security systems in focus amid U.S.-Korea nuclear-sub talks
These developments coincide with stepped-up U.S.-South Korea cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines. On the 26th, the government formalized the basic plan for the “Jangbogo-N” nuclear-powered submarine program, targeting the first hull’s launch in the mid-2030s. Observers have raised the possibility of using the Philadelphia yard for some work.
But Sim Sang-min, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, cautioned in a report that leaders’ agreement is only a starting point. He said the project will require an official decision by the U.S. president, negotiation of a U.S.-ROK Naval Nuclear Propulsion Cooperation Agreement, and talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before the submarines reach operational status. He added that the current U.S.-South Korea nuclear agreement bans military use of nuclear material, so a legal transition would be necessary.
In its shipbuilding plan released this month, the U.S. Navy asked Congress to lift restrictions so that large hull modules for front-line combatants can be built at allied shipyards overseas. The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) described that request as “a de facto admission that the United States cannot build a golden fleet on its own.”
Industry observers say the move will test how quickly allied shipyards can be folded into a classified-ship ecosystem in support of U.S. naval procurement.
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