From November 10 to 13, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) participated in the Defense & Security 2025 exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, where it showcased export variants of its frigate designs and shipbuilding technologies.
HD HHI Press Release Translation by Naval News
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) is participating in an international defense exhibition held in Thailand to establish a foothold for the export of next-generation frigates to the Royal Thai Navy.
Held biennially, D&S is a comprehensive defense industry exhibition covering land, sea, and air systems. This year’s event is expected to feature over 560 defense companies from more than 40 countries and attract around 20,000 visitors.
During the exhibition, HD HHI plans to actively promote its frigate construction capabilities, including proven operational performance, stability, and extensive export experience, to key figures such as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy and other senior officials.
In particular, the compan exhibited three 3,000-ton class next-generation export frigate models, HDF-3200, HDF-3600, and HDF-4000, in anticipation of the Royal Thai Navy’s upcoming frigate procurement program scheduled for next year.
The HDF-3200 is a proven design that was successfully delivered to the Philippine Navy, demonstrating operational reliability and performance. The HDF-3600 is currently being co-built with Peru’s state-owned SIMA shipyard under a partnership in which HD HHI provides design, equipment, and technical support, while SIMA handles final construction.
The HDF-4000, based on the Republic of Korea Navy’s latest Chungnam-class (Ulsan-class Batch III) frigate, is a model for which HD HHI remains the only Korean shipbuilder with export delivery experience.
Joo Won-ho, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Naval & Special Ship Business Unit, stated,
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is the optimal partner to contribute to the Royal Thai Navy’s capability enhancement. Through this exhibition, we aim to showcase our diverse naval solutions and lay the groundwork for securing the upcoming Thai frigate contract.
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Naval News comments
Naval News visited HD HHI’s booth at the exhibition and learned that the company showcased three frigate models of varying displacements and capabilities because of the uncertainty surrounding the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) requirements, as neither the Navy nor the Ministry of Defence has yet issued a Request for Proposal (RfP).
The most likely candidate, and the one considered the best fit for the RTN’s operational needs, is the 3,600-ton HDF-3600 design — an enlarged variant of the model previously exported to the Peruvian Navy. All three models on display were equipped with multifunction radars featuring AESA capabilities, along with a suite of modern sensors. While the weapons and systems can be fully customized to meet the RTN’s preferences, the baseline configuration includes a 24-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS), eight surface-to-surface missiles in a 4×2 configuration, and a 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).
HHI’s key advantage lies in the proven and reliable nature of its designs, which are already in service with several navies worldwide, as well as in the company’s extensive experience in naval exports.
