LNG carriers are docked at Venture Global’s liquefied natural gas terminal in Louisiana. (Hanwha Aerospace) South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace said Tuesday it has established a US-based subsidiary, Hanwha Horizon USA, as part of its push to grow its footprint in the global liquefied natural gas market.The new company will serve as the control tower for Hanwha Aerospace's LNG business, overseeing procurement, trading and logistics optimization, the company said.James Sagar, CEO of Hanwha Shipping, will concurrently serve as the first CEO of Hanwha Horizon USA. Sagar has about 30 years of experience in the maritime and energy industries.Centered on Hanwha Horizon USA, the company plans to establish an LNG business spanning transportation, supply and power generation, leveraging the larger Hanwha Group' shipping, shipbuilding and energy capabilities.As part of the plan, Hanwha Horizon USA will supply LNG to Hanwha Energy's LNG-fired power plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which is scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2029. The company also plans to expand LNG supplies to power producers and energy companies in Korea and overseas. In the long term, it plans to enter the LNG trading business across Asia and global markets.The company expects that securing a stable LNG supply chain could strengthen partnerships with customer countries in both the energy and defense sectors, potentially allowing Hanwha to establish itself as a broader security partner.Hanwha Aerospace has already signed a long-term LNG purchase agreement with Venture Global, one of the major US LNG producers. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Southern Power to establish a "Team Korea" partnership aimed at strengthening global LNG cooperation, improving procurement competitiveness and diversifying supply sources."The establishment of Hanwha Horizon USA is an important turning point in connecting our global LNG procurement capabilities with our competitiveness in shipbuilding and maritime businesses," an official at Hanwha Aerospace said. "We will establish a stable LNG supply chain that can flexibly respond to market changes and continue expanding a differentiated LNG value chain in the global energy market."