South Korean defence acquisition body orders additional Aegis destroyer from local shipyard

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has been awarded a contract by South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for the construction of the fifth Sejong the Great-class guided missile destroyer for the country’s navy.

The yet unnamed destroyer will have a length of 170 metres, a displacement of 8,100 tonnes, and a speed of 30 knots. It will also be fitted with a variant of the Aegis combat system that is capable of being operated in the anti-ballistic missile defence role in addition to performing anti-air warfare missions.

The destroyer is scheduled for delivery to the navy in 2026.