▶ Launch ceremony took place on September 17th at HHI’s Ulsan headquarters, with delivery to the ROK Navy scheduled for 2026
▶ The vessel marks as a core asset and a symbol of Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation, celebrating the Navy’s 80th anniversary 
▶ "With the Aegis destroyer technology recognized even by the United States, we will lead the globalization of warship exports and the MASGA project."

Amid ongoing discussions between South Korea and the United States on advancing the MASGA Project to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched a new Aegis destroyer that serves as a powerful symbol of bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding.

HHI held a launch ceremony on Wed., September 17th at its Ulsan headquarters for the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, the second 8,200-ton vessel in the KDX-III Batch-II program. 

About 400 guests attended the ceremony including Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back, Adm. Kang Dong-gil, chief of naval operations, Bang Geuk-cheol, director general for base power projects at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Rep. Baek Sun-hee of the National Defense Committee, Lee Sang-kyun, President & CEO of HHI, and Joo Won-ho, Chief Executive of the Naval and Special Ship Business at HHI.

The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong is the world’s most powerful Aegis destroyer to date, measuring 170 meters in length and 21 meters in width, with a displacement of 8,200 tons and a top speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h). Equipped with an upgraded Aegis Combat System, the destroyer’s detection and tracking capabilities are more than double those of the earlier 7,600-ton Sejong the Great-class destroyers.

In particular, with the application of the Integrated SONAR System, the submarine detection range has increased more than threefold, significantly enhancing the capability to detect underwater threats such as submarines and torpedoes.

Combined with advanced interceptor capabilities, the destroyer plays a key role in the Navy’s three-axis maritime defense strategy, aimed at deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. Following sea trials and final outfitting, the vessel will be delivered to the Navy next year.

In keeping with the Navy’s tradition of naming vessels after notable historical figures, the first Batch-II Aegis destroyer was named Jeongjo the Great. This second vessel has been named Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, one of Joseon’s most renowned scholars whose practical reforms strengthened the nation alongside King Jeongjo.

The vessel is regarded as a symbol of Korea-U.S. cooperation in shipbuilding, as it incorporates the U.S. Aegis Combat System into HHI’s independently developed engineering and construction expertise. With the successful completion of the Jeongjo the Great and now the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, HHI further solidifies its reputation as a world-leading builder of Aegis destroyers.

“My sincere gratitude goes to CEO Lee Sang-kyun, and all HHI employees for delivering this state-of-the-art vessel equipped world-leading technologies. K-shipbuilding is not only central to our maritime power but also a driver of national defense, economic growth, and our ambition to become a top four defense exporter. The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong is the embodiment of K-shipbuilding excellence combined with the Navy’s resolve,” said Minister Ahn Gyu-back.

President Joo Won-ho said the launch of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong represents another recognition of Korea’s advanced capabilities in constructing Aegis destroyers, acknowledged even by the U.S., and that “by delivering high-performance, high-quality warships on schedule, we will continue to elevate the ROK Navy’s global standing as it celebrates its 80th anniversary and plays a leading role in warship exports and the MASGA Project.”

In 2008, HHI became only the third shipbuilder in the world to successfully design and construct the 7,600-ton Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyer—equipped with the Aegis Combat System (dubbed the “dream destroyer”)—using entirely its own technology.

More recently, the company successfully designed and delivered the first Batch-II destroyer, Jeongjo the Great, to the Navy in November 2024. Construction of the third vessel in the Batch-II program is currently underway.

In April, HHI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the U.S. leader in Aegis destroyer construction. The company expects this partnership to garner further momentum following the launch of the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong.