South Korea Kicks Off KDX-II Destroyer Upgrade Program

On January 15, South Korea’s Protection Procurement Program Management (DAPA) held a first conference for the battle system growth as component of the upgrade program (efficiency renovation program or PIP) for the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin– course destroyers (KDX-II).

DAPA prepares to substantially boost the functional abilities of the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin– course destroyers by changing their significant onboard devices with most recent systems. Hanwha Solution was granted the PIP (Efficiency Renovation Program) agreement worth 135.93 million USD (197.1 billion KRW) in December in 2015 and is anticipated to utilize its most recent battle system modern technologies and use its previous experience of updating the KDX-I Gwanggaeto the Great– course destroyers.

As component of the upgrade, obsolete battle systems will certainly be changed with a locally established system including innovative software program, substantially boosting target handling and info handling rates. The existing towed variety finder system will certainly be changed with the most recent variation, which is likewise released on FFX Batch-III Chungnam-class frigates, while the projectile illuminators for SM-2 surface-to-air projectiles will certainly be updated. This will considerably boost anti-air and anti-submarine abilities. This PIP is the very first upgrade program for South Oriental marine vessels geared up with the SM-2, incorporating the projectile with the battle system making use of innovative residential modern technologies.

In Addition, the United State Division of Protection’s Protection Safety and security Collaboration Company (DSCA) announced in December 2024 that the United State State Division has actually authorized an International Armed forces Sale (FMS) asked for by the South Oriental federal government for $300 million (around 430 billion KRW) on behalf of the KDX-II upgrade task. This consists of technological assistance, software program, and the MK 99 fire-control system to deal with maturing concerns of the KDX-II destroyers.

Complying With the KDX-I Gwanggaeto the Great– course destroyers, the KDX-II destroyers came to be the very first in the Republic of Korea Navy to take on SM-2 projectiles, developing themselves as a foundation of the ROK Navy’s fleet. The lead ship of the course, Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, was constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Design (currently Hanwha Sea) and appointed in December 2003. With the very first ship currently surpassing 22 years of solution, the demand for efficiency upgrades has actually come to be progressively crucial. KDX-II has actually experienced several circumstances of battle system breakdowns, stressing the necessity of innovation initiatives to make sure functional integrity and preserve objective preparedness.

A significant case highlighting these difficulties happened throughout the U.S.-led international maritime workout, RIMPAC in July 2022. Throughout the workout, the ROK Navy’s Munmu the Great terminated an SM-2 projectile, which stopped working to obstruct its target and rather self-destructed mid-air. The examination, performed by the united state Navy and connected to the ROK Navy, exposed that the failing was brought on by a software program mistake in the projectile’s tool control system. The case emphasized the crucial demand for thorough upgrades to both the software program and equipment of the KDX-II course destroyers to deal with such susceptabilities and make sure the integrity of the ROK Navy fleet’s air protection abilities.

There was expectancy pertaining to whether the KDX-II would certainly have its MW-08 air-surface radar changed with an indigenously established 3D AESA radar such as the SPS-560K, or the SPY-7 radar recommended byLockheed Martin during MADEX 2021 Nonetheless, the radar substitute was not consisted of in the existing efficiency renovation program.

DDH-II Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin– course destroyers

The Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin– course destroyers (KDX-II) have actually led the way for the Republic of Korea Navy to shift right into a blue-water navy. As a core possession of the Maritime Job Flotilla 7, they are consistently released as component of the Companion Job Team in the Gulf of Aden, making certain the secure navigating of both South Oriental and private vessels versus marine criminal offenses. Study to establish a follower to the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin– course destroyers is presently underway, with conclusion targeted for the 2030s. At MADEX 2023, Hanwha Sea recommended the KDDX-S principle, which includes boosted variation and decreased employees demands via automation and unmanned systems.

Requirements

Variation: 5,500 t (full-load)

Size: 150 meters

Light beam: 17.4 meters

Draft: 7.3 meters

Propulsion: GE LM2500 gas-turbine engine x 2, MTU diesel motor x 2 (CODOG) two-shafts

Rate: Full Throttle as much as 30 knots

Array: 5,500 nm at a rate of 20 knots

Approx. 230 employees

SYQ-500K mod.II KDCOM2 (CMS)

Weaponries

5-inch Mk 45 weapon x 1

30 mm Goalkeeper CIWS x 1

RGM-84D Harpoon or SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship projectiles x 8

RIM-116 Moving Airframe Rocket (RAM) x 1

32-cell Mk41 VLS for SM-2 Block IIIA

24-cell K-VLS for C-Star-II surface area to land cruise ship projectile and Red Shark K-ASROC

Three-way 324 mm torpedo tubes for K745 Blue Shark torpedo x 2

Sensing Units

RTX AN/SPS -49( V) 5 2D long-range radar

Thales Nederland MW08 3D radar

Thales Nederland STIR 240 fire-control radar

Finder

Atlas Elektronik DSQS-21BZ hull-mounted finder

SQR-220K lugged variety finder system

Softkill/ECM

SLQ-261K TACM

K-DAGAIE Mk 2 decoy system

SLQ-200( V) K SONATA ECM

Airplane

Mk 99 Super Lynx x 2

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