Rivalry between Korean shipbuilders at center of delayed next-gen destroyer project

A growing rivalry between Korea’s two major shipbuilders, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, has been at the center of the country’s next-generation destroyer program — a project viewed as vital to both national defense and future export prospects in a rapidly expanding global arms market. The 7.8 trillion won ($5.48 billion) Korean Destroyer Next-Generation (KDDX) program aims to deliver six state-of-the-art, 6,000-ton Aegis-equipped destroyers by 2030. Designed and built entirely with domestic technology, the ships would be the first homegrown vessels of their kind, enhancing Korea’s naval capabilities and bolstering its credibility as a defense exporter. However, a bitter dispute between the two contractors over who should lead the project had plagued decision-making and cast uncertainty over the program’s future. Hanwha Ocean, which handled the concept design, accused HD Hyundai of illegally obtaining military secrets during the bidding process. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which traditionally awards the prime contract to the basic desWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times