South Korea kicks offs KDDX design competition
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched a competition for the design of the next-generation Aegis-equipped destroyer for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) on 29 May.
Known as the KDDX or KDX-IV, this programme will give the ROKN six additional ballistic missile defence destroyers, though they will be smaller than KDX-III (pictured above) Batch I and II destroyers.
Shephard Defence Insight estimates the price per ship will be about $950 million each.
There are two main contenders for the design phase, both indigenous shipbuilders: Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).
DAPA is stipulating the
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