Hanwha Ocean wins contract to build advanced logistics support ship for South Korean Navy.

According to a PR published by Hanwha Ocean on July 26, 2024, the company has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Republic of Korea Navy's next logistics support ship (AOE-II).
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Artist rendering of a Logistics Support Ship. (Picture source: Hanwha Ocean)

Hanwha Ocean, led by Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk-woong, announced on the 25th that it was chosen through a solo bid for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's (DAPA) AOE-II second ship construction project. The project is valued at approximately 460.1 billion KRW.

After completing technical and conditional negotiations, a contract is expected to be signed by mid-August, with the construction and trial runs leading to the ship's delivery to the Republic of Korea Navy by December 2028.

The AOE-II is designed to supply ammunition, cargo, and fuel to ships at sea, enabling rapid resupply akin to how an aerial refueling tanker extends the operational range of combat aircraft. This capability significantly enhances the operational duration and scope of combat ships like destroyers and frigates.

Hanwha Ocean's new logistics support ship will incorporate improvements identified from the lead ship delivered in 2018. Compared to the first-generation Cheonji-class (AOE-I), the new vessel will offer enhanced speed and loading capacity.

Hanwha Ocean has previously demonstrated its prowess in naval shipbuilding by exporting four logistics support ships to the Royal Navy in 2015, marking the first time the British Navy imported such vessels from abroad, along with a hospital-equipped logistics support ship to Norway.