Hyundai Heavy partners with UK’s Babcock in Korean light aircraft carrier bid... Design and construction agreement

Queen Elizabeth艦 Development UK Babcock Partnership
Hull Construction Expected to Cost 2 Trillion Won... Order Likely Next Year

Korean-style light aircraft carrier (CVX) proposed by Hyundai Heavy Industries

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on the 1st that it has formed a partnership with the UK’s Babcock to build a Korean-style light aircraft carrier. Babcock is a company recognized for having the world’s top technology in the maritime defense sector and directly participated in the development of the UK’s latest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Under this agreement, the two companies will combine their core technologies to win the basic design project for the light aircraft carrier and the actual shipbuilding project. Previously, the two companies completed the conceptual design, the first stage of ship design, last year. The Korean-style light aircraft carrier (CVX) development project is expected to cost more than 2 trillion won for hull construction alone, making it the largest single ship project in the history of the Korean military. The military is reportedly preparing to place an order within next year. Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering competed for the project contract.

Babcock, which directly participated in the development of HMS Queen Elizabeth, is a global defense industry company with competitiveness in the design and construction technology of the latest warships as well as comprehensive military logistics support. At the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition held last June, Hyundai Heavy Industries attracted attention by unveiling the latest model of the Korean-style light aircraft carrier applying an integrated combat system including unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ships together with Babcock.

John H. Bobcock, Group CEO (left in the photo), and Ga Samhyun, President of Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, are taking a commemorative photo after the partnership signing ceremony for the construction of the Korean light aircraft carrier held recently.

The light aircraft carrier introduced by Hyundai Heavy Industries is characterized by an increased flight deck area compared to existing warships. By applying a ski-jump ramp, it is praised for enhancing the carrier’s most important function, aircraft operation capability, and the ship’s operational performance. Taking this agreement as an opportunity, the two companies plan to continue sharing know-how in various fields such as defense industry and marine technology and jointly enhance competitiveness in the global warship market.

Ga Sam-hyun, CEO of Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said, "The two companies, each possessing the best technology in shipbuilding and defense sectors, will closely cooperate to complete the optimal Korean-style light aircraft carrier that will protect our territorial waters as the flagship of the Republic of Korea." John Howie, Group CEO of Babcock, said, "Based on this partnership, we will combine the technologies and know-how of both companies to jointly lead the global warship business."

Since starting its special ship business in 1975, Hyundai Heavy Industries has designed and built 90 combat ships and submarines, including Korea’s first Aegis destroyer, ROKS Sejong the Great, and the next-generation frigate, ROKS Incheon.

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