South Korea awards contract to construct first KDX-III Batch 2 AEGIS destroyer

A CGI of the KDX-III Batch 2 as released by DAPA. Photo c/o Navy Recognition.

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has awarded a KRW676.6 billion (US$565 million) contract to homegrown shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to conduct the detailed design and construction of the first Batch 2 ship of the Sejong the Great-class guided missile destroyer for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

A total of three (3) ships are planned under this new sub-class, which will feature improvements over the Batch 1 ships of the class including a slightly larger hull, an updated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability with more powerful sonar systems, and better overall performance.

Like the Batch 1 ships, the new Batch 2 will also have the Aegis combat system, updated to enable the application of the SM-3 missiles for ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability,

The new ship will be 170 meters long, 21 meters wide, and displaces at 8,100 tons.

The first ship is expected to be delivered to the ROKN by November 2024.



[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Naval Today