South Korean Destroyer fleet approved for US improvement programme
The KDX-II fleet will benefit from the improvement programme. (Photo: US DoD)
The US State Department has agreed to sell South Korea technology to keep its Destroyer fleet effective as a deterrent.
The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to South Korea. The sale amounts to a KDX-II-class destroyers product improvement programme, along with related logistics and programme support elements.
The US$300 million sale includes modified MK 99 fire control system cabinets, updated weapon direct system software modification, integration and installation, and relevant technical documentation.
The price also includes personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.
Related Articles
South Korea launches first KDX-III Batch 2 destroyer
The sale would improve South Korea’s capability to perform anti-surface and anti-air warfare missions as a deterrent to regional threats, particularly from North Korea, and to strengthen its homeland defence.
The six-vessel KDX-II fleet was commissioned between 2003–2008 as a class of multi-purpose destroyers under the Korean Destroyer eXperimental (KDX) programme. The vessels are typically deployed on reconnaissance and surveillance, anti-submarine, air and surface warfare operations.
This upgrade would not add substantively to the KDX-II’s capabilities, but would allow the fleet to continue operating, in the wake of the encroaching obsolescence of some of its current hardware and required software fixes.
The principal contractor on the sale would include BAE Systems, Integrated Defense Solutions, based in Rockville, Maryland. Additional contractors would be determined by competition to select approved vendors.
To implement the sale, eight government and 20 contractor personnel would be required to visit South Korea, to deliver the technical oversight and support requirements of the programme, as well as to provide installation and training support in-country.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
KDDX Next Generation Destroyer [South Korea]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract]()
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
-
![Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals]()
Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.
-
![US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels]()
US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels
Agreements with Inventech Marine Solutions and North River Boats cover the acquisition of trailerable aids to navigation boats and cutter boats - aids to navigation – small.
