Well, the KT and the Chosun Ilbo call it a “mini-destroyer” but a smallish destroyer is called a frigate, isn’t it? Any ways, Korea’s current Aegis destroyer is the 7,700 ton KDX-III, King Sejong the Great class. On the drawing board is the KDX-IIA, a (we’ll just use the Korean media’s term for the time being) “mini-destroyer” in the 5,600 ton class range.
(Photo from Yahoo Korea)
The Korean navy plans to build 6 between 2019 to 2026 and the whole program is estimated to cost W3 trillion (US $3.5 billion).
(HT to kushibo)
Update: The Chosun Ilbo also reports that the Korean navy is planning on getting the SM-6 “extended range” missile to be used on the KDX-III. Essentially, the SM-6 is the anti-ballistic missile version of Raytheon’s Standard missile family. Yes, a credible counter to the North Korean ballistic missile threat is the goal here.
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