Hyundai Heavy Industries Launches Next-Generation Aegis Destroyer 'Jeongjo Daewang'

Equipped with Ballistic Missile Interception Capability and Enhanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Performance

The next-generation Aegis ship Jeongjo Daewang, launched on the 28th at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan headquarters

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Hyundai Heavy Industries has launched South Korea's first next-generation Aegis destroyer.

On the 28th, Hyundai Heavy Industries held a launching ceremony for the 8,200-ton Korean Aegis destroyer (KDX-Ⅲ Batch-Ⅱ) lead ship at its Ulsan headquarters, attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, Navy Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Director Eom Dong-hwan, HD Hyundai and Hyundai Heavy Industries Chairman Kwon Oh-gap, Vice Chairman Han Young-seok, President Chung Ki-sun, and President Lee Sang-gyun.

This warship was named Jeongjo Daewangham in honor of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of Joseon, who promoted cultural renaissance and national prosperity during the late Joseon period.

Jeongjo Daewangham is the first next-generation Aegis destroyer introduced by the Republic of Korea Navy, measuring 170 meters in length, 21 meters in width, with a displacement of 8,200 tons, capable of sailing at a maximum speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h).

Equipped with state-of-the-art Aegis combat systems, it features dramatically improved ballistic missile defense capabilities and anti-submarine warfare performance compared to the existing Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers (7,600-ton class).

Additionally, it newly incorporates ballistic missile interception functions and applies various weapon systems such as a 5-inch naval gun, close-in weapon system, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, making it a destroyer with formidable combat power.

Through multifunction phased array radar, infrared detection and tracking equipment, and electro-optical tracking devices, its detection and tracking capabilities are more than doubled compared to the Sejong the Great-class, and its integrated sonar system improves submarine detection range by more than three times.

Hyundai Heavy Industries successfully built South Korea's first Aegis destroyer, the Sejong the Great, in 2008 and the third ship, Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, in 2012. It plans to deliver the Jeongjo Daewangham in 2024 and the second 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer to the Navy in 2026.

Han Young-seok, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, "As the only domestic shipyard that independently designs and constructs Aegis destroyers, we have built the Jeongjo Daewangham as one of the most advanced Aegis destroyers in existence, contributing to strengthening the combat power of our Navy."