HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Begins Construction of the 2nd Next-Generation Aegis Destroyer

Keel Laying of 8200t-class Aegis Destroyer No. 2
Scheduled for Delivery by Late 2026

A panoramic view of the first next-generation Aegis ship, "Jeongjo Daewang," launched last July at Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan headquarters. Photo by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun full-scale construction of the "next-generation Aegis destroyer (Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II) No. 2," which will serve as the core naval force of the Korean Missile Defense System (KAMD).

On the 4th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a keel-laying ceremony for the No. 2 next-generation Aegis destroyer at its headquarters in Ulsan, attended by Vice Chairman Han Young-seok, officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Defense Technology Quality Institute. The keel-laying ceremony marks the first step in shipbuilding, involving the cutting of steel plates used for the hull.

The Republic of Korea Navy plans to acquire a total of three next-generation Aegis destroyers, all of which will be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The lead ship, the "King Jeongjo," was launched last July in a ceremony presided over by President Yoon Suk-yeol. The No. 2 ship was laid down on this day, and the final No. 3 ship is scheduled to be laid down in November next year.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries carried out the basic design of the 7,600-ton first-generation Aegis destroyer, the Sejong the Great-class, and successfully built two of the three ships: the No. 1 Sejong the Great and the No. 3 Ryu Seong-ryong, which were delivered to the Navy in 2008 and 2012, respectively.

The next-generation Aegis destroyer measures 170 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and has a light displacement of 8,200 tons. It can operate at a maximum speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h). Compared to the existing Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers, it features enhanced ballistic missile interception capabilities and significantly improved anti-submarine warfare performance.

Its main armaments include ship-to-ground guided missiles, long-range ship-to-air guided missiles, long-range anti-submarine torpedoes, and lightweight torpedoes. Equipped with the latest Aegis combat system, multifunction phased array radar, electro-optical tracking equipment, and integrated sonar system, it boasts formidable combat capabilities. Additionally, it is designed with a fuel-saving auxiliary propulsion system composed of two 1.7 MW propulsion electric motors to reduce fuel consumption.

The No. 2 next-generation Aegis destroyer is scheduled to have its first block placed in the dock in March next year, followed by launching, sea trials starting in 2025, and delivery to the Navy in December 2026. Once operational, it is expected to play a key role in protecting South Korea’s maritime interests by responding to various threats, including ballistic missile detection, tracking, and interception.

Han Young-seok, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated, "Following the Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has independently carried out the detailed design and construction of the King Jeongjo-class Aegis destroyers, demonstrating world-class shipbuilding technology. The No. 2 ship laid down today will also be delivered on schedule based on accumulated technology and project management capabilities, contributing to strengthening our Navy’s capabilities."

Meanwhile, after the keel-laying ceremony, Vice Chairman Han met with the captains of Navy ships under construction at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (King Jeongjo, Chuncheon, Chungnam, and Shin Chae-ho) and promised more active support to ensure their comfort while working at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

An Aegis destroyer is a destroyer equipped with the "Aegis combat system." The name "Aegis" originates from the shield used by Zeus in Greek mythology. A single Aegis destroyer can suppress multiple aircraft, warships, missiles, and submarines, earning it the nicknames "Shield of the Gods" or "Dream Destroyer."

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