HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has officially begun the construction of the ‘Next-Generation Aegis Destroyer (KDX-III Batch-II) second vessel,’ which is set to become a key naval asset in South Korea’s Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system.
HD HHI press release
On Tuesday, March 12th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a keel-laying ceremony at its Ulsan headquarters’ special shipyard for the second vessel of the KDX-III Batch-II. The keel-laying ceremony marks the beginning of the ship’s construction by placing the first block in the dock. It symbolizes wishes for successful construction and safety, signifying that the shipbuilding is now on its main course.
The Republic of Korea Navy plans to introduce a total of three 8,200-ton class Next-Generation Aegis Destroyers, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries being given the honor of constructing all three vessels of the class. The lead vessel, ‘Jeongjo the Great,’ which was launched in July 2022, is currently undergoing final trials, with delivery expected in the second half of this year. The last vessel is scheduled to start its construction by the end of this year.
The Korean Next-Generation Aegis Destroyers, measuring 170 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and with a light displacement of 8,200 tons, can operate at a maximum speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h). Compared to the existing Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III Batch-I) Aegis destroyers, they feature enhanced ballistic missile interception capabilities and dramatically improved anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The Jeongjo the Great-class’s primary armaments include ship-to-ground ballistic missiles, long-range surface-to-air missiles, long-range anti-submarine torpedoes, and light torpedoes. Additionally, they will be equipped with the latest Aegis combat system, multi-function phased array radar, electro-optical tracking equipment, and an integrated sonar system, endowing them with formidable combat capabilities. Furthermore, they are designed to conserve fuel by incorporating a fuel-efficient auxiliary propulsion system, consisting of two 1.7MW electric propulsion motors.
The second vessel, whose keel was laid today, is scheduled to be launched next year, to begin sea trials in 2025, and to be delivered to the Navy by the end of 2026. Once operational, it is expected to become a core naval asset in the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting ballistic missiles, and responding to various threats.
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has successfully completed the basic design of the Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX) last year, leveraging its design and construction capabilities from the 7,600-ton class Aegis ships (KDX-III Batch-I) and the 8,200-ton class Next-Generation Aegis ships (KDX-III Batch-II).
 held a keel-laying ceremony for the second vessel of the KDX-III Batch-II.){kind=link}