Hanwha Ocean selected to build South Korea's KDDX lead ship

An artist's rendition of South Korea's future KDDX vessel. (Hanwha Ocean)

Hanwha Ocean has confirmed it has been selected as preferred bidder for the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) Korean Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) detailed design and lead ship construction programme.

In a regulatory filing on 2 July, the company said South Korea's Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had notified it of the selection one day earlier.

Hanwha Ocean said negotiations on detailed contract terms are expected to begin before a final agreement is concluded.

The announcement marks the latest development in the KDDX programme, which aims to equip the RoKN with a new class of destroyers that displace approximately 6,500 tonnes.

The ships are intended to provide the navy with enhanced air-defence, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities while incorporating a high degree of domestically developed technologies.

In February 2026, South Korea's Defence Acquisition Program Committee (DAPC) approved a draft KDDX plan that called for the detailed design and lead ship construction phase to be competed among domestic defence companies. DAPA said at the time that the contractor would be selected through a competitive process.

The KDDX programme was approved in 2018 with a total projected value of about KRW7 trillion (USD6.5 billion) and is scheduled to run until 2036. The programme covers construction of the new destroyer class and development of associated combat capabilities.

A key element of the programme is the development of the Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile II (K-SAAM II) system, which is intended to serve as the class's primary air-defence missile.

Hanwha Ocean's filing did not disclose the expected value of the detailed design and lead ship contract or a construction schedule for the first vessel.

In response to questions from Janes