South Korea has designated Hanwha Ocean as the prime contractor for the construction of six next-generation destroyers under the KDDX program, signaling a significant step in Seoul’s naval modernization efforts.
South Korea has formally advanced its Korea Destroyer eXperimental (KDDX) program by designating Hanwha Ocean as the prime contractor for the construction of six next-generation destroyers, according to reports.
The move signals a concrete step in Seoul’s broader naval modernization effort, aimed at replacing aging KDX-I class frigates that have been in service since the late 1990s.
Program architecture and Hanwha Ocean’s role
Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) before its acquisition by the Hanwha Group in 2023, will serve as the lead shipbuilder for the KDDX fleet.
The company brings substantial warship construction experience, having previously built KDX-II Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class and KDX-III Sejong the Great-class destroyers for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).
The KDDX is designed as a roughly 6,000-ton displacement vessel — placing it between a conventional frigate and a full destroyer — optimized for multi-domain operations covering anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-air warfare (AAW).
The design incorporates an integrated mast architecture that consolidates radar, electronic warfare, and communications systems into a single structure to reduce radar cross-section.
Propulsion and combat systems specifications
The KDDX is expected to adopt a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) or integrated electric propulsion (IEP) system, with final propulsion architecture still subject to program refinement. The ship’s combat management system is slated for domestic development, consistent with South Korea’s stated goal of reducing dependence on foreign defense electronics.
The vertical launch system (VLS) configuration will likely accommodate the domestic Hyunmoo cruise missile family alongside the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) interceptors.
The radar suite is anticipated to include an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system, developed in collaboration with LIG Nex1, which has been involved in previous Korean naval electronics programs. Integration of a domestically produced 127mm naval gun is also under consideration, though supplier finalization remains pending.
Industrial and procurement timeline
The six-ship order represents a significant production run by regional standards. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has been managing requirements definition, and the program has faced iterative delays tied to technology readiness levels for some onboard systems.
Full-rate production is expected to extend through the mid-2030s, with the lead vessel delivery targeted within the current decade pending contract finalization.
From an industrial standpoint, the contract reinforces Hanwha Ocean’s position in the domestic naval shipbuilding sector following its competition against HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which builds the existing Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers.
The award consolidates naval surface combatant work at a single yard, which carries both efficiency benefits and supply chain concentration risks if production bottlenecks emerge.
Operational context and regional calculus
The KDDX program does not operate in isolation. The ROKN is simultaneously pursuing the KDX-III Batch II Aegis destroyer and expanding its submarine fleet under the KSS-III program. Sustaining parallel major acquisition tracks places pressure on defense budgets and domestic industrial bandwidth.
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