Concept design of the large 6,000-ton test ship (ADD image)

South Korea’s HD HHI to build Large Test Vessel

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is to conduct detailed design and construction of ADD’s new large test vessel (experimental ship).

On July 30th, the competitive bidding for the detailed design and construction of the Republic of Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD)’s new 6,150-ton large test vessel was won by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. In the selection process, conducted through competitive bidding, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean participated. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries scored a total of 95.84 points, with 75.84 points in the technical evaluation and 20 points in the price evaluation. Hanwha Ocean scored 74.68 points in the technical evaluation and 19.9511 points in the price evaluation, achieving a total of 94.6311 points.

Previously, when it came to the acquisition of defense materials or assets, the company that conducted the basic design was typically given the contract to conduct the detailed design and construction of the lead ship unless there was a compelling reason not to. However, the large test vessel was considered a general material, so the bidding was held on the Public Procurement Service’s Korea ON-line e-Procurement System (KONEPS) and was awarded through competitive bidding.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ official stated regarding the bidding results:

We aim to meet the improved performance requirements demanded by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) from the detailed design to the construction of the large test vessel, with a goal of early delivery. As the only company in South Korea with research, development and design capabilities for Aegis ships, we are fully prepared to continue the KDDX research and development project as an ongoing initiative and to complete the timely delivery of the lead ship.

ADD’s large test vessel

The large test vessel announced by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is a multi-purpose special vessel designed to serve as a platform for testing next-generation missiles, as well as for conducting capability measurements and development tests for high-altitude interceptors and flight vehicles. It is essential for the vessel to be equipped with advanced testing and measurement equipment and to possess long-range, extended-duration navigation capabilities.

The main specifications of the new large test vessel include:

• Displacement: 6,150 tonnes (light load), 8,250 tonnes (deep load), and a total of over 10,000 tonnes including the radar dome placed on top of the vessel.
• Range: 10,000 nautical miles.
• Speed: Over 27.78 km/h.
• Capacity: Accommodation for 86 passengers, including 60 researchers and 26 crews.

This large test ship will feature two sections of KVLS-I (8-cell) and KVLS-II (4-cell) for testing guided weapons, test and training measurement equipment, Dynamic Positioning (DP) for maintaining the ship’s position during guided missile launches at sea, and facilities for operating vehicles equipped with guided missile launchers. Additionally, the specifications require an extended size of the VLS section to accommodate the next generation of Korean VLS, which is shown to have a size of 3900mm x 5100mm.

It is anticipated that with the recent opening of the Samcheok East Coast Test Range and the acquisition of the large test vessel, the ROK Navy will be able to conduct further analysis of its latest guided weapon systems, such as the SAAM-400K (K-SAAM), which had its first live-fire exercise, and the future long-range surface-to-air missile (Ship-to-Air Missile-II) under development by LIG Nex1.