South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has held a launching ceremony for the Dasan Jeong Yak-yongham, the second ship of the Sejong the Great-class destroyer (KDX-III) under Batch-II, built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).
As disclosed, the launching ceremony took place at the Ulsan shipyard on September 17. 2025. The vessel has a length of 170 meters, a width of 21 meters, a tonnage of 8,200 tons, and a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Compared to the Sejong the Great-class (7,600-ton class) Aegis destroyers, it comes equipped with the Aegis combat system, which has significantly improved functions, more than doubling its detection and tracking capabilities, according to HD HHI.
In particular, the application of the integrated SONAR system has more than tripled the submarine detection range, to improve the detection capabilities against underwater threats such as enemy submarines and torpedoes.
After the launching ceremony, the destroyer will undergo sea trials and final outfitting and will be delivered to the navy next year.
Construction is also progressing smoothly on the third ship of the Aegis destroyer Batch II, the officials noted.
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the firm in charge of constructing Aegis destroyers in the United States, and this launching ceremony is expected to further accelerate cooperation between the two companies.
In November last year, HD HHI delivered ROKS Jeongjo the Great, the first ship in the 8,200-ton Sejong the Great-class destroyers.