Yi Jongmu-class destroyer - Development

The Yi Jongmu-class destroyer, named after the famed general of the same name who led a massive fleet to to attack Japan, is the completed development of the KDDX destroyer. While initially intended for launch around 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration has deemed it necessary to push development back to 2026.

The reason for this delay is quite simple: DAPA and the Ministry of National Defense agree that the Yi Jongmu-class should be the first testing ground of a native AEGIS replacement. The integrated naval defense system - named DEUNGPAE, after the shield - will hopefully be able to be integrated onto earlier AEGIS-reliant ships, to promote a further degree of self-reliance.

Hyundai Heavy Industries will be contracted to design and construct all ships of the class.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction will be contracted to develop the DMGT-001 (Doosan Marine Gas Turbine version 001) for main propulsion, with a minimum power output of 27 MW and a maximum power output of 50 MW.

Hanwha Group and LIG Nex1, the two groups working on the land-based L-SAM project, will cooperate on the various electronics for the Yi Jongmu-class. Hanwha Group will work on the K-CMS, the combat management system of the ship, as well as the I-MAST, which utilizes two S-band antennas and two X-band antennas to track both long range and short range targets.

For weaponry, the primary focus will be the K-VLS, of which 108 cells will be placed on the Yi Jongmu-class. 16 additional anti-ship missile stations, launching the SSM-700K anti-ship missile, will be included as well. The naval gun will be a KMK45 127mm naval gun, while the CIWS will be the LIG Nex1 developed Jangchang CIWS.

Overall, the ship will be substantially more stealthy than the Sejong the Great-class, much more independent from foreign supply chains, and better equipped with the very latest in electronics and weaponry.

Yi Jongmu-class destroyer - Specifications

General Characteristics

• Displacement: 7,500 t
• Length: 152 m
• Beam: 19 m
• Draft: 6 m
• Propulsion:
  • x1 DMGT-001 gas turbine
  • x6 diesel engines
• Speed: 32 knots (max)
• Range: 6,250 nmi
• Endurance: 30 days
• Complement: 270

Sensors, Processing Systems, and Electronic Warfare Systems

• DEUNGPAE Integrated Naval Defense System
  • K-CMS Combat Management System
  • I-MAST Radar System
  • SLQ-200K Electronic Warfare Suite
  • SQR-220K Towed Array Sonar
  • SLQ-261K torpedo acoustic counter measures
  • LIG Nex1 HMS Hull Mounted Sonar
  • Hanwha Systems N-TICN Integrated Communication Suite

Armament

• x1 KMK45 127mm naval gun
• x4 K6 12.7mm heavy machine guns
• x1 30mm Jangchang close in weapons system
• x16 SSM-700K Haesong anti-ship missile stations
• x3 triple-tube K745 Blue Shark torpedo tubes
• x84 K-VLS for
  • Cheolmae-2 medium range SAM
  • Hong Sang Eo torpedo
  • SSM-700K Haesong anti-ship missile
  • Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile
  • K-SAAM short range SAM
  • N-L-SAM adapted long range SAM
• x2 AW159 Wildcat, Westland Lynx, UH-60 Blackhawk, or UH-1 Iroquois helicopters

Cost, Development, and Planned Ships

• Development time: 2 years
• Development cost: $7 billion
• Unit cost: $785 million
• Planned Ships: