South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has launched the second King Jeongjo-class 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer for the Republic of Korea Navy.
The new vessel, Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996), honors a renowned Joseon-era philosopher and scientist. Its launch comes three years after the first ship in the class, King Jeongjo the Great, was launched in July 2022.
Following launch, the destroyer will undergo outfitting and sea trials before being delivered to the navy’s Fleet Command in late 2026. The class will ultimately comprise three ships, with the first delivered in November 2024 and the third scheduled for 2027.
Part of the KDX-III Batch II program, the King Jeongjo-class improves upon the earlier Sejong the Great-class, with upgrades in stealth and advanced tracking of missile threats. Each destroyer is 170 meters long, 21 meters wide, and manned by 300 personnel.
Powered by four gas turbines and two hybrid electric drive units, the ship reaches speeds of 30 knots (55 km/h, 35 mph) with greater fuel efficiency and a reduced acoustic profile.
Its armament includes the Aegis combat system, integrated sonar, SM-3 and SM-6 missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, and the ability to deploy an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The SM-3 can intercept targets at altitudes up to 500 km (310 miles), while the SM-6 engages lower-altitude threats during their terminal phase.
With these capabilities, the destroyer is a core element of South Korea’s “three-axis” defense strategy against North Korean ballistic missiles.
