Targeting the Middle East Defense Market with the HDF-6000
Proposing a Naval Modernization Package at the Region's Largest Defense Exhibition
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is taking full-fledged steps to win the contract for Saudi Arabia's next-generation frigate project by participating in the Middle East's largest defense exhibition, held in Saudi Arabia.
Rendering of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' booth at WDS 2026, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through the 12th. Provided by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on February 8 that it will participate in the World Defense Show (WDS), an international defense exhibition held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for five days from February 8 to 12, 2026. At this exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will set up a joint pavilion together with LIG Nex1, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and EOST to comprehensively showcase its advanced warship construction technologies and maritime defense capabilities.
Held biennially, WDS is the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, and this year it is expected to attract more than 770 defense companies from 76 countries worldwide and over 100,000 visitors. Key decision-makers in the global defense market, including those from the Middle East, are expected to gather in one place.
The Saudi government is pursuing a naval modernization program that includes the introduction of new frigates. At this exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will showcase a total of eight types of warships, including the 6,000-ton export-type frigate "HDF-6000," optimized to meet Saudi requirements.
The HDF-6000 was developed based on the technological capabilities and know-how of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which successively built the "Sejong the Great-class destroyer" and the "Jeongjo the Great-class destroyer," both evaluated as world-class Aegis destroyers. It has been designed as an Aegis-class frigate with a larger size than existing frigates and significantly enhanced onboard equipment and performance.
During the exhibition period, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to focus on presenting package solutions for the Saudi naval modernization program to key officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Navy. The company will highlight a differentiated strategy that encompasses not only design, construction, and project management capabilities, but also local construction and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), based on its successful track record at the SIMA shipyard in Peru.
In particular, in line with the Saudi government's policy of increasing the local production ratio, the company will also propose a phased localization plan. In the event it wins the frigate contract, it is reviewing measures to gradually increase the local construction ratio of the HDF-6000 at the Saudi International Maritime Industries (IMI) shipyard, which was established through joint investment by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Saudi state-owned company Aramco, among others.
In addition, during this WDS, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will sign a "joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) for establishing a local supply chain in Saudi Arabia" together with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and 12 Korean companies, including LIG Nex1 and STX Engine. Through this, the company plans to develop cooperation measures for the Saudi Industrial Participation Program (IPP) and make a joint entry into the Saudi market.
Joo Wonho, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (Head of Naval & Special Ship Business Unit), said, "By unveiling the HDF-6000, which has been optimized to meet Saudi requirements, at the Middle East's largest defense exhibition, we have added strategic significance," and added, "We will do our utmost to win the contract for Saudi Arabia's next-generation frigate project through a strategy of local construction and industrial cooperation utilizing IMI, the largest shipyard in the Middle East and North Africa region."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
