TSAMTO, August 1. On July 28, the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan hosted the launching ceremony of the 8,200-ton Sejong Dewong-class URO destroyer of the KDX-3 Batch II series, designed for the Republic of Korea Navy.
The event was attended by the President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Seok-yel.
Equipped with the Aegis system, the ship (DDG-995) Jeonjo the Great is the first of three new-generation destroyers that will allow the Republic of Korea Navy to intercept ballistic missiles. The ship is planned to be transferred to the fleet at the end of 2024.
As reported by TSAMTO, the first batch of three KDX-3 destroyers equipped with the Aegis system of Baseline 7.1 version was adopted by the Republic of Korea Navy in the period from 2008 to 2012. Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) built the first and third ships, and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) – the second.
The design of the KDX-3 Batch II ships by Hyundai Heavy Industries began after the conclusion of the contract in May 2016. In April 2019, the Defense Projects review committee headed by the Minister of Defense approved plans for the construction of a second batch of three Sejong Dewong-class URO destroyers and next-generation submarines for the country's Navy. The cost of building destroyers is estimated at 3.9 trillion. won ($3.3 billion).
In October 2019, the Defense Procurement Programs Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) signed a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the development of a working design and construction of the second series of the Sejong Dewong-class URO destroyer (KDX-3) for the country's Navy. The contract value was 667.6 billion. won ($565 million).
Cutting of steel for the construction of "Jeonjo the Great" began on February 16, 2021. The laying of the keel of the ship took place on October 5, 2021 at the HHI enterprise in Ulsan.
In November 2021, HHI announced the signing of a contract worth 636.3 billion. won ($541.7 million) for the construction of the second destroyer of the KDX-3 Batch II project.
It is assumed that the length of the ship will be 170 m, width – 21 m, displacement – 8,100 tons. Equipped with the Aegis weapon control system, the destroyer will be able to reach a maximum speed of 30 knots. According to the company, in comparison with the existing destroyers, the new ships will receive improved combat systems capable of detecting and tracking targets at a longer range and with higher accuracy, will have improved seaworthiness and anti-submarine characteristics. The ship's armament will include the SM-2 "Standard" Block-3B. According to the Navy, the destroyer will also be able to carry MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters.
