[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Fierce Mind Games of the 'Shipyard Master'... Madex Closing

Frigate and Destroyer Orders Battle: 'HD Hyundai Heavy Industries VS Hanwha Ocean'
Destroyer Engine Business Entry: 'Rolls-Royce VS GE'
Navy Conducts First Amphibious Operation Demonstration of Manned-Unmanned Maritime Combat System

‘International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX) 2023,’ where our military’s cutting-edge ship weapon systems and naval and maritime defense systems from around the world can be seen at a glance, will conclude on the 9th. This year’s MADEX, with participation from over 140 domestic and international defense industry companies from 12 countries, drew attention for the bidding battles among competitors and amphibious operations applying manned-unmanned combined combat systems.

On the 8th, manned and unmanned forces maneuvered during the demonstration event of the "Amphibious Operation Applying Maritime Manned-Unmanned Complex Combat System" showcased by the Navy at the Busan operational base. (Photo by the Navy)

In particular, the competition between HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering), vying for the title of Korea’s “master of surface ships,” stood out. Hanwha Ocean, which recently rebranded after separating from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, showcased four types of ships: the Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate, the Korean Destroyer eXperimental (KDDX), the Korean next-generation smart destroyer (KDDX-S), and the joint fire support ship. Hanwha Ocean put all its efforts into securing orders for the Batch-III frigate units 5 and 6, often called the “mini Aegis ship.” This vessel’s strengths lie in its combat system developed by Hanwha Systems and its hybrid propulsion system that minimizes underwater radiated noise. Industry insiders predict a high likelihood of Hanwha Ocean winning the contract. However, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries faces a variable factor due to a penalty deduction in weapon system proposal evaluations, stemming from past military secrets leaks by its employees.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries promoted the Korean Destroyer eXperimental (KDDX), a core future naval asset. After winning the contract for the first KDDX ship project in March 2020, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has been conducting the basic design. However, Hanwha Ocean has continued to raise conflicts, submitting a national audit request to the Board of Audit and Inspection in April, demanding an investigation into the fairness and legality of the contractor selection process, alleging compromised fairness.

Foreign naval engine manufacturers also engaged in fierce competition. Rolls-Royce introduced integrated electric propulsion and hybrid electric propulsion solutions. Rolls-Royce was selected for the Daegu-class FFX Batch-II anti-submarine warfare frigate project and is installing the latest hybrid propulsion systems on a total of eight ships. Meanwhile, GE proposed two propulsion system options for the Republic of Korea Navy’s 6,000-ton Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX): integrated full electric propulsion (IFEP) or hybrid electric drive (HED).

On the 8th, the Navy demonstrated an amphibious operation applying the maritime manned-unmanned combined combat system, ‘Navy Sea GHOST,’ for the first time at the Busan operational base. The operation demonstration involved six manned combat vessels, three aircraft, three Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV), special forces teams, and 30 unmanned assets including unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Colonel Lee Hee-jung, Chief of Combat Development at the Navy Operations Command, who prepared the operation demonstration, emphasized, “The maritime manned-unmanned combined combat system will maximize operational capability and serve as a game changer that can lead the operation to victory while minimizing friendly casualties in amphibious operations.” Meanwhile, the Navy plans to conduct the operation demonstration for foreign delegations on the 9th and for the general public on the 10th.

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