Hanwha Ocean Secures 7.8 trillion‑won KDDX Destroyer Contract, Lead Ship Due 2032
Hanwha Ocean and South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a 7.8 trillion‑won contract on July 31 to develop the Korean‑design Destroyer (KDDX) program. The deal covers six 7,000‑ton class destroyers built with domestic technology, with the lead ship slated for delivery to the navy in 2032 and the remaining five to be ordered from late 2028, completing the fleet by 2036. The vessels will carry nine domestically developed core systems, such as advanced sonar, a multifunction phased‑array radar and fleet‑air defense missiles, and will integrate unmanned combat systems, multi‑layer defense, cyber protection and crew‑reducing automation. The project, delayed by more than two years due to contractor selection and security reviews, aims to strengthen South Korea's naval capability and boost indigenous defense‑industry exports.
Entities: Defense Acquisition Program Administration · Hanwha Ocean · KDDX destroyer program · South Korean Navy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The program includes integration of unmanned combat systems, multi‑layer defense, cyber protection and crew‑reducing automation technologies. (technological features)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The contract is valued at 7.8 trillion South Korean won. (contract value)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The KDDX project was delayed by more than two years due to contractor selection and security review issues. (project delay)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The lead ship is scheduled for delivery to the navy in 2032. (delivery schedule)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The destroyers will be equipped with nine domestically developed core systems, including sonar, a multifunction phased‑array radar and fleet‑air defense missiles. (equipment)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The KDDX program will produce six 7,000‑ton class destroyers using domestic technology. (program scope)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The remaining five destroyers will be ordered starting late 2028, with the full fleet completed by 2036. (order and delivery timeline)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Hanwha Ocean signed a contract with South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration for detailed design and lead ship construction of the KDDX destroyer program. (contract signing)