South Korea launches first new KDX III Batch II AEGIS guided missile destroyer
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| The new destroyer Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995) during launch. Photo c/o Choson.com. |
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the first KDX III Batch II AEGIS-equipped guided missile destroyer on 28 July 2022.
The ship, to be named ROKS Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995) once in service with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), was named after the 22nd king of Joseon, King Jeongjo, who reined from 1776 to 1800.
The ship was ordered back in October 2019 under a US$565 million contract between the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The ship will be the 4th AEGIS-equipped guided missile destroyer of the ROKN, and will be the largest in service with an empty displacement at 8,200 tons, compared to the current Sejong the Great-class destroyers which has an empty displacement of around 7,600 tons.
Two more ships are to be constructed, with HHI expected to deliver all three 170-meter long ships by November 2024.
The new KDX III Batch II are closely based on the KDX III Batch I Sejong the Great-class destroyers, with several improvements including an improved combat, detection and tracking system, as well as an anti-ballistic missile capability using the Raytheon SM-3 Block IB interceptor missiles.
It will also be armed with the SM-2 Block IIIB missile, and could potentially also adapt the SM-6 missile.
According to defense media outlet Naval News, the new KDX III Batch II destroyers will have a total 88 vertical launch systems (VLS) consisting of Mk. 41 VLS with 48 cells, K-VLS with 16 cells, and K-VLS II with 24 cells.
The Mk. 41 VLS will be used for American-made missiles, while the K-VLS will deploy the K-SAAM air defense missile, the K-ASROC anti-submarine rocket, and the Haeryong tactical surface launch missile (TSLM) land attack cruise missile.
Meanwhile, the K-VLS II will allow the deployment of the future long range surface-to-air missile being developed by South Korea called the Cheongung 3 L-SAM, as well as future supersonic anti-ship missile.
The ship will also have the Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) and the AEGIS Baseline 9.C2 combat system.
[1] Naval News
[2] Korea Herald
[3] Navy Recognition
South Korea launches first new KDX III Batch II AEGIS guided missile destroyer
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August 02, 2022
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Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
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August 02, 2022
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