HD HHI Press Release translated by Naval News
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has successfully constructed and delivered the ROKS Jeongjo the Great, a world-class Aegis destroyer, to the Republic of Korea Navy.
The 8,200-ton ROKS Jeongjo the Great (KDX-III Batch-II) was officially delivered on the 27th at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with government representatives from seven countries, including the U.S. and Poland, in attendance. The event also featured the unveiling of the advanced frigate ROKS Chungnam, showcasing South Korea’s shipbuilding excellence and commitment to strengthening K-defense exports as “Team Korea, Team Ship.”
The signing ceremony for the delivery of 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer, the first ship of the Batch-II class, was held on November 27th at HD HHI’s headquarters in Ulsan. Key attendees included Hyun-ki Cho, Deputy Minister of Current Capability Program at Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA); Rear Admiral Kwang-seop Gwak,Chief of Naval Planning & Management at the ROK Navy Headquarters; Rear Admiral(lower half) Tae-kyu Park, Commander of Battle Training Group Eight; Jong-seop Kim,Vice Chairman of the Ulsan City Council; HD HHI CEO Sang-kyun Lee; and Won-ho Joo, Head of the Naval & Special Ship Business Unit.
The ceremony also attracted international dignitaries, including Nolan Barkhouse, U.S. Consul in Busan; Patricio Esteban Troya Suarez, Ambassador of Ecuador to South Korea; Artur Gradziuk, Deputy Ambassador of Poland to South Korea; and representatives from Morocco, Chile, Thailand, and Peru, totaling over 20 officials from seven nations. The event underscored the global interest in Korea’s shipbuilding expertise.
Following the ceremony, attendees toured HD HHI’s Naval & Special Shipyard, including the latest frigate ROKS Chungnam, which is planned for delivery to the ROK Navy next month.
Among the attending foreign delegations, countries such as Poland and Peru are considered strong prospects for expanding K-defense exports, while collaboration in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) sector of the defense industry with the United States is under review, adding further significance to the event.
The Jeongjo the Great delivered today is South Korea’s fourth domestically designed and constructed Aegis destroyer, developed with indigenous technology. It is equipped with the latest Aegis combat system, multifunctional phased array radar, an independently developed integrated sonar system, the Korean Vertical Launch System (KVLS) and holds ballistic missile interceptors. These advanced systems provide the ship with capabilities not only to detect and track ballistic missiles but also to intercept them.
The Jeongjo the Great was constructed following a contract signed with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in 2019. The keel-laying and construction commencement ceremonies were held in 2021, followed by its launch on July 28, 2022. The vessel successfully completed approximately 550 rigorous evaluations, including maximum speed assessments, and was delivered to the Navy on schedule.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has gained further recognition for its performance, cost efficiency, and adherence to construction timelines by successfully delivering key naval assets, including the Ulsan-class frigates Cheonan and Chuncheon, the 3,000-ton submarine Shin Chae-ho, and now the Jeongjo the Great.
Since its construction began, the Jeongjo the Great has attracted significant attention, with key figures from various nations, including U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, personally visiting the shipyard to observe its development.
We are delighted to deliver the Jeongjo the Great, a vessel with world-class performance, through close collaboration with DAPA, the Navy, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ). We will continue to strive, as part of ‘Team Korea’ and ‘Team Ship,’ to drive the export of K-defense products in partnership with the government.
Won-ho Joo, Head of Naval & Special Ship Business Unit at HD HHI
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is finalizing the construction of the second ship of the Jeongjo the Great class, with its launch scheduled for next year. The company also began construction of the third ship in October. In addition, HD HHI is leading naval exports with projects such as the delivery of a patrol vessel to the Philippines next year and the initiation of joint development for four ships with Peru.
Specifications and Features of ROKS Jeongjo the Great
The ROKS Jeongjo the Great, a domestically designed and constructed Aegis destroyer, boasts enhanced stealth capabilities and a larger 8,200-ton displacement compared to the previous 7,600-ton Batch-I class. It seamlessly integrates the U.S.-imported Aegis Combat System with domestically developed technologies, including the integrated sonar system, KVLS-II, surface-to-land ballistic missiles, long-range surface-to-air missiles and ballistic missile interceptors. The ship is also equipped with MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters, enabling long-range strikes and enhanced underwater threat detection and response capabilities. Powered by four gas turbine engines and a Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) system, it combines high-speed performance with economical propulsion.
As a cornerstone of South Korea’s advanced naval strategy, the ROKS Jeongjo the Great is expected to serve as a key asset in the “Sea-Based Maneuvering Three-Axis System,” a strategic initiative aimed at countering North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats through integrated underwater kill chains, layered missile defense, and precision strike capabilities.
