Next-Generation Logistics Support Ship to Be Delivered to Navy in 2028

Hanwha Ocean Begins Full-Scale Construction of Follow-Up Logistics Support Ship to Soyang

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has officially begun construction of the follow-on vessel to the Soyang-class fast combat support ship, which was commissioned in 2018.

On April 29, DAPA announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the fast combat support ship (AOE-II) project at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje Shipyard in Gyeongnam, with officials from DAPA, the Navy, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, Hanwha Ocean, and partner companies in attendance. The ceremony, which marks the start of construction by cutting the first steel plate to be used for the hull, signals the official commencement of shipbuilding.

The fast combat support ship is designed to supply fuel, ammunition, food, and other supplies to naval vessels at sea during operations. The second phase of the project calls for the construction of an additional 10,000-ton Soyang-class fast combat support ship by 2028, with a total investment of 531.5 billion won. In 2024, DAPA signed a contract with Hanwha Ocean to build the second vessel.

The follow-on ship will feature noise reduction design within the vessel and will be equipped with an intelligent closed-circuit television (CCTV) system capable of automatically detecting emergencies such as fires and falls, thereby improving living conditions and safety for the crew compared to the Soyang. The design also takes into account the installation of the domestically developed Close-In Weapon System II (CIWS-II), which is currently under research and development. In addition, for the first time, a domestically produced Engine Control System (ECS) will be applied, integrating propulsion, power, and auxiliary equipment into a single networked control system.

DAPA expects that the technology and know-how accumulated through the construction of this fast combat support ship will contribute to expanding orders for future shipbuilding and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) projects.

Choi Sangdeok, Director of the Naval Shipbuilding Division at DAPA and Navy Brigadier General, stated, "Fast combat support ships are a core asset that determines the outcome of naval operations," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that high-performance vessels are commissioned in a timely manner."

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