Hyundai Heavy Industries Wins Order for One New Escort Ship Worth 400 Billion KRW

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hyundai Heavy Industries is set to build the Republic of Korea Navy's latest frigate.

On the 16th, Hyundai Heavy Industries announced that it recently signed a contract worth 400 billion KRW with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for the "Ulsan-class Batch-III detailed design and lead ship construction."

This contract is for the first ship of a total of six new 3,500-ton frigates being introduced by the Republic of Korea Navy. Hyundai Heavy Industries previously signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2016 for the "Ulsan-class Batch-III exploratory development."

Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to construct this frigate at its Ulsan shipyard and deliver it to the Republic of Korea Navy in 2024.

The new frigate measures 129 meters in length, 15 meters in width, and weighs 3,500 tons. It can operate at speeds up to 55 km/h. Equipped with a four-sided fixed multifunction phased array radar capable of 360-degree omnidirectional detection, tracking, and response, its air defense capabilities are significantly enhanced compared to the existing Ulsan-class frigates.

In particular, by applying a hybrid propulsion system, it uses an electric propulsion method that generates less noise, reducing the threat of submarine detection. Additionally, in emergencies, it can operate at high speeds using gas turbine propulsion, thereby improving operational capabilities.

Following last year's success in securing the Aegis destroyer (Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II) contract, Hyundai Heavy Industries has demonstrated its prominence in the latest warship sector by winning the frigate (Ulsan-class Batch-III) contract within five months. Based on the design and construction experience of the newly contracted frigate, Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to accelerate the development of the next-generation Korean Aegis destroyer (KDDX) project.

Meanwhile, since building the Republic of Korea's first combat ship, the Ulsan, in 1975, Hyundai Heavy Industries has designed and constructed over 80 combat ships and submarines, including the nation's first Aegis destroyer, the Sejong the Great, and the next-generation frigate, the Incheon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.