Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer
Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyers are multipurpose destroyers of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship of this class, ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sunsin, was launched in May 2002 and commissioned in December 2003. Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers were the second class of ships to be produced in the Republic of Korea Navy's destroyer mass-production program named Korean Destroyer eXperimental, which paved the way for the navy to become a blue-water navy. Six ships were launched by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in four years.
Weapon systems
The ships have a 32-cell strike-length Mk 41 VLS for SM-2 Block IIIA area-air defence missiles, one 21-round RAM inner-layer defence missile launcher, one 30 mm Goalkeeper close-in weapon system, one Mk 45 Mod 4 127 mm gun, eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles and two triple 324 mm anti-submarine torpedo tubes.The electronics suite includes one Raytheon AN/SPS-495 2D long-range radar, one Thales Nederland MW08 target indication 3D radar, two Thales Nederland STIR240 fire-control radars with OT-134A Continuous Wave Illumination transmitters, an SLQ-200K SONATA electronic warfare system and a KDCOM-II combat management system which is derived from the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate's SSCS combat management system using technology provided by BAeSEMA, naval technology joint venture between British Aerospace and the French Sema Group. BAE Systems WDS Mk 14 originally developed for the US Navy's New Threat Upgrade evaluates threats, prioritizes them, and engages them in order with SM-2.
On the 4th unit, ROKS Wang Geon, the 32-cell Mk 41 VLS is moved to the left and an indigenous VLS named K-VLS is installed on the right. The ship's forward part is spacious enough to take a 56-cell Mk 41 VLS.
KDX-II Product Improvement Project
The KDX-II Product Improvement Project is planned to address several deficiences. This includes obsolescence of foreign imported components such as the combat information system resulting in low availability and frequent unplanned shutdowns, and the limited performance of key systems such as Thales Nederland MW08 radar.On Jun 14, 2024, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration issued a bid announcement to start the selection of a shipyard for the KDX-II PIP. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2033, with a budget of KRW 470 billion. The major statement of work is expected to include replacing the hull mounted sonar, towed array sonar system, MW08 3D radar and the combat information system.