The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on October 29th that the design and configuration for the performance upgrades of the ROK Navy’s large amphibious assault ship (LPH) ROKS Dokdo have been finalized.
ROKS Dokdo is the Republic of Korea Navy’s large amphibious assault ship and the lead vessel of the Dokdo-class LPH (Landing Platform Helicopter). Dokdo has a displacement of 14,000 tons (light load) and a length of approximately 200 meters. It can transport around 700 landing troops, 7 helicopters, two LSF-II Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), and other equipment, including the ROK Marine Corps’ K-1 tank and KAAV. It serves as the command vessel for landing operations.
ROKS Dokdo was constructed in 2007, and the second vessel of the Dokdo-class, ROKS Marado, was launched in 2018. Marado incorporates operational experience gained from Dokdo, resulting in an improved system layout. Additionally, being built in 2018, Marado is equipped with more advanced and updated sensors compared to Dokdo. Therefore, an upgrade project to modernize the aging sensors and equipment on Dokdo was deemed necessary. Following preliminary research and feasibility studies, a contract was signed with HJ Heavy Industries in November 2022. The plan is to complete the performance upgrades and deliver the ship by 2027. DAPA confirmed that the total project cost is approximately 198 billion KRW (142.9 million USD).
According to the finalized design and configuration by DAPA, Dokdo’s combat system, initially co-produced with foreign technology, will be upgraded to Hanwha Systems’ Naval Shield Baseline 3.0, which is currently deployed on the FFX Batch-III frigates. This upgrade is expected to improve information processing speed by 100 times and increase the number of trackable targets fivefold, significantly enhancing the combat system’s stability, ease of operation, and maintenance.
The SMART-L radar produced by Thales will be replaced by an indigenously developed four-sided Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, as used on the FFX Batch-III frigates. The radar for Dokdo is modified in both hardware and software to fit its mast, with the upgrade expected to double both the detection range and the number of targets it can process. For IRST (Infra-Red Search and Track), Safran’s Vampir will be replaced by Hanwha Systems’ SAQ-600K, and the 3D air and surface search radar will be upgraded from Thales’ MW-08 to LIG Nex1’s SPS-550K.
Lastly, all equipment in command centers, such as the command post and combat information center (CIC), will be replaced with the latest systems, and the layout of these spaces will be modernized. Additionally, the power, cooling, and air-conditioning systems will be modified and upgraded to accommodate the new equipment. To enhance the Dokdo‘s survivability, the Torpedo Acoustic Countermeasure (TACM) system will also be upgraded.
“With the completion of this design and configuration meeting, we have finalized the upgrade blueprint for the Dokdo, a ship familiar to the public. Starting with the modification and refitting of the vessel in July 2025, we will officially launch the performance upgrade project. By installing the latest domestically developed combat system, we aim to strengthen Dokdo’s capability to defend territorial waters, while enhancing the vessel’s appearance with the installation of the four-sided fixed AESA radar atop the mast.”
Rear Admiral Hyun-Seung Shin, ROK Navy Director General, Naval Ship Program Department at DAPA.
