South Korea has launched its second King Jeongjo-class Aegis-equipped destroyer, the Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (DDG-996).
The warship was floated out at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan on September 17, according to footage provided by Yonhap TV and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
It is the second unit of the 8,200-ton King Jeongjo-class destroyers—South Korea’s newest generation of guided-missile destroyers equipped for ballistic missile defense and long-range strike.
The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong measures 170 meters in length with a beam of 21 meters. It is capable of sailing at speeds up to 30 knots. Compared to the earlier Sejong the Great-class destroyers, the new vessel offers enhanced stealth features and upgraded detection and tracking capabilities.
A central feature of the ship is its ability to intercept ballistic missiles at both the midcourse and terminal phases. It is armed with SM-3 and SM-6 missiles, giving it layered air and missile defense capabilities. The warship is also reportedly capable of carrying out deep land-attack missions using surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
