First Jeongjo the Great-class destroyer enhances South Korean Navy's firepower and multi-domain combat capabilities.

On November 27, 2024, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) delivered the Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995), an 8,200-ton Aegis-equipped destroyer, to the South Korean Navy (ROKN). The ceremony took place at HHI’s Ulsan shipyard and was attended by representatives from the Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the South Korean Navy, and nine other nations, including the United States, Poland, Indonesia, and Peru. This marks the addition of the first King Jeongjo KDX-III Batch-II class destroyer to South Korea’s naval fleet.
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Scheduled to be commissioned into the South Korean Navy on December 2, 2024, the King Jeongjo will undergo a year of operational training before deployment, planned for December 2025. (Picture source: HHI)

The Jeongjo the Great, named after the 22nd monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, is the fourth Aegis destroyer built in South Korea. Also known as King Jeongjo, it is the lead ship of the Batch-II Sejong the Great-class, also called the King Jeongjo-class or Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II class. Construction began following a 2019 contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), with the keel laid in October 2021 and the ship launched on July 28, 2022. The vessel underwent more than 550 trials and evaluations before delivery. Work on the program’s next two ships commenced in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Scheduled to be commissioned into the South Korean Navy on December 2, 2024, the King Jeongjo will undergo a year of operational training before deployment, planned for December 2025. Once deployed, it will serve in South Korea’s 7th Mobile Fleet, a unit tasked with maritime security operations. The vessel was previously showcased in augmented reality during South Korea’s 75th Armed Forces Day in 2023. With a standard displacement of 8,500 tons and a full-load displacement of 10,000 tons, it is comparable in size to the US Navy’s DDG(X) and China’s Type 055 destroyers. The ship also represent a continuation of South Korea’s efforts to enhance its maritime defense capabilities under the KDX-III program, which aims to address evolving regional threats and establish the ROKN as a blue-water navy.

The Jeongjo the Great-class includes several technical modifications from the earlier Sejong the Great-class. The number of vertical launch cells has been reduced from 128 to 88, but the new Korean Vertical Launching System-II (KVLS-II) accommodates larger and more versatile missile payloads, allowing it to deploy long-range precision-strike missiles. Armament includes 48 Mk 41 Vertical Launching System cells for SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles for air and ballistic missile defense and 80 KVLS cells capable of deploying K-SAAM surface-to-air missiles, K-ASROC Red Shark anti-submarine missiles and Cheongung 3 long-range surface-to-air missile and tactical surface-to-surface missiles. The destroyer is equipped with phased array radar, infrared and electro-optical tracking systems, and a stealth design to reduce radar cross-section.

With a displacement of 8,500 tons (standard) and 10,000 tons (full load), the Jeongjo the Great/Batch-II-class is slightly larger than the Sejong the Great/Batch-I-class. The ship measures 165 meters in length, with a beam of 21.4 meters and a draft of 6.25 meters. Powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) arrangement, the destroyer achieves speeds exceeding 30 knots, with a range of 5,500 nautical miles and endurance for 30 days. Its hybrid propulsion system enhances fuel efficiency during non-combat operations, a new feature in this class.

The ship features enhanced anti-submarine warfare systems, including a domestically developed sonar, a towed array sonar, and the ability to deploy long-range torpedoes. It can also support MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, expanding its operational capabilities. The destroyer is outfitted with the Aegis Combat System Baseline 9.C2, allowing it to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles and other threats. It features the AN/SPY-1D(V) multi-function radar, which enhances its ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously.

The next ship in the Jeongjo the Great/Batch-II series, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996), is scheduled for launch in 2025, with a third vessel expected thereafter. The entire Batch-II program, budgeted at 3.9 trillion won, is set to conclude by 2028. It aims to strengthen South Korea’s naval capability, particularly in countering ballistic missile threats, and aligns with the Navy’s Sea-Based Maneuvering Three-Axis System, a strategy designed to counter missile and nuclear threats in the region through integrated underwater kill chains, missile defenses, and precision strike capabilities.

The delivery event also served to highlight potential for international collaborations in naval exports. Representatives from countries including Poland and Peru attended the ceremony, signaling interest in South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and defense technology. Additionally, discussions regarding Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) collaborations with the United States further underscore the potential global impact of this project.