According to information published by the South Korean MoD on July 28, 2022, the launching ceremony of the first Sejong the Great-class destroyer (KDX-III) Batch II Jeongjo the Great was held at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.
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Sejong the Great-class destroyer (KDX-III) Batch II Jeongjo the Great (Picture source: South Korean MoD)
Jeongjo the Great is the first ship of the KDX III Batch II, which refers to the next-generation Aegis destroyer, and the fourth Aegis ship of the Navy.
The destroyer, designed and built independently in Korea, saw its groundbreaking ceremony take place in 2021, the construction contract having been signed in 2019. Two more Aegis ships of her class will be built in the future.
King Jeongjo is 600 tons larger than the King Sejong class (7,600 tons) destroyer and is said to have advanced vertical launch ballistic missile defense.
The destroyer has a beam of 21 meters and a displacement of 8,300 tons, she can reach a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h. 35 mph) and can carry a complement of 300 sailors.
It is equipped with an advanced integrated sonar system developed with domestic technology and long-range anti-submarine torpedoes and light torpedoes.
As for the propulsion system, two hybrid electric propulsion systems (HEDs) are added to the four King Sejong-class gas turbine engines, enabling economical maneuvering to save fuel.
The ceremony was attended by about 150 people, including President Yoon Seok-yeol, First Lady Kim Kun-hee, government and military officials, lawmakers, and defense industry officials.
