HJ Heavy Industries Wins 180.8 Billion KRW Contract for Performance Upgrade of Navy's Korean-Type No.1 Large Transport Ship 'Dokdo'

Dokdo-class and Marado-class Construction Followed by Unmatched Competitiveness in Warship Performance Upgrade Projects

Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] HJ Heavy Industries has secured the performance upgrade project for Dokdo, Korea's first large-scale transport ship.

HJ Heavy Industries (CEO Hong Moon-ki) announced on the 29th that it had won the performance upgrade system development project for the Navy's first large transport ship, Dokdo, from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for 180.8 billion KRW. This project is aimed at significantly enhancing the capabilities of Dokdo, the country's first large transport ship.

The Dokdo performance upgrade project involves replacing the aging combat systems and radar equipment installed on Dokdo, which has served as a landing command ship and played a key role in naval landing operations for 15 years since its delivery in 2007, to ensure operational capability and subsequent logistical support.

The 14,000-ton Dokdo, whose primary mission is transporting troops and equipment for landing operations, can accommodate 700 landing troops and 7 helicopters. It is a multipurpose vessel that serves as a command ship for wartime landing operations and can also be used for disaster relief and evacuation of overseas nationals in emergencies.

HJ Heavy Industries began basic design in 1999, started construction in 2002, launched the ship in 2005, and commissioned Dokdo in 2007. Subsequently, in 2021, HJ Heavy Industries built the second ship, Marado, and delivered it to the Navy last year.

The Dokdo performance upgrade project was implemented as a follow-up to the completion of Korea's first destroyer performance upgrade, which was the first attempt for surface ships. It is expected to achieve improvements such as enhanced combat command capabilities and detection performance through the application of more advanced domestic combat systems.

With this, HJ Heavy Industries is recognized as the only domestic defense company that has designed and built both of the Navy's large transport ships. The company has proven its outstanding competitiveness in performance upgrade projects through this contract.

After successfully re-entering the commercial ship market last year, HJ Heavy Industries is expanding its civilian sector focusing on container ships, where it has strengths, and actively engaging in various naval ship projects. Its two-track strategy of civilian and defense sectors is proving to maximize synergy effects.

An HJ Heavy Industries official said, “Starting with the construction of the first domestically produced patrol boat ‘Haksaengho’ in 1972, we have built various high-speed patrol boats, corvettes, combat ships, as well as large transport ships, landing ships (LST), logistics support ships, and high-speed landing crafts (LSF), sharing the history of Navy vessels,” adding, “Through the successful performance upgrade of Dokdo, we will fulfill our role as a defense company in strengthening national defense capabilities.”