On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, a launching and formal handover ceremony for the second modified KDX-III-class guided-missile destroyer of the second batch, ROKS Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996), was held at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, in the southeast of South Korea. Its entry into service is planned for next year.
Photo: HHI
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the launching ceremony was attended by the Republic of Korea Minister of Defense Ahn Kyu-baek, joined by Chief of Naval Operations Kang Dong-gil, Bang Geuk-cheol, head of the Current Capabilities Program at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), representatives of the defense industry, and some 400 distinguished guests. The launching was initiated by the minister’s wife, Shim Hye-jung, who cut the ceremonial rope.
Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (1762–1836), the ship’s namesake, was one of the most outstanding Korean thinkers, scholars, and statesmen of the late Joseon period (1392–1897). Through his practice, he promoted the pursuit of national prosperity and strength, guided by a spirit of compassion for the people and a will to innovate.
The prototype ship, ROKS JeongJo the Great (DDG-995), was launched on July 28, 2022, and after a series of acceptance trials comprising more than 550 rigorous tests and evaluations, was handed over to the customer on November 28, 2024. This year, the launch of the third ship, hull number 997, is planned, with delivery to the customer expected by late 2027.
The decision to procure three additional upgraded KDX-III guided-missile destroyers was made on December 10, 2013. The budget was set at 4 trillion KRW (then PLN 13.32 billion), with deliveries scheduled for 2023–2027. However, a year later, it was cut to 3 trillion KRW, and the delivery date for the first ship was pushed back to November 2024.
In May 2019, the parliament gave the green light to the initial contract, which was signed on October 10 of the same year. It was valued at 676.6 billion KRW.
The new ships are equipped with the Aegis Combat System and measure 170 m in length, 21.4 m in beam, and 6.25 m in draft, with a standard displacement of 8,200 tonnes (about 10,000 tonnes full load) and a top speed of 30 knots. By comparison, first-batch KDX-III ships measure 166 m in length and have a standard displacement of 7,600 tonnes.
Under an agreement dated February 20, 2020, with U.S. company Lockheed Martin, the ships are fitted with universal Mark 41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells, including for anti-air and anti-ballistic missiles such as the RIM-174 SM-6 Block I ERAM, for which Seoul received approval on November 15, 2023.
In addition, the ships receive 16 K-VLS and 24 K-VLS II launchers. Their primary armament, beyond those mentioned, will also include interceptors such as the SM-2 and SM-3, the domestic Cheongung-III (L-SAM), intended to progressively replace the SM-2, as well as the K-SAAM (Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile) in place of the RIM-116 RAM, Haeryong TSLM cruise missiles, and the Hong Sang Eo anti-submarine rocket-torpedo (K-ASROC).
For realistic anti-air and anti-missile training of the second-batch KDX-III crews, aerial target drones, BQM-177A, and target missiles, GQM-163 Coyote, will be used. Seoul received approval to procure these on March 7, 2024.
Work is also underway on a next-generation guided-missile destroyer project codenamed KDDX (alternatively KDX-IV). DAPA selected HD HHI’s bid, and construction of the first of six ships is to begin after 2025. The design calls for a tumblehome bow shape, similar to that of the U.S. Zumwalt-class destroyers.
