Article

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will select a contractor for the detailed design and lead ship construction of the Korean-type destroyer (KDDX) in the first half of 2026. A preliminary briefing session was held on January 11, 2026, to outline project timelines and performance specifications.

The KDDX project will involve the construction of six 6,000-ton-class mini-Aegis ships with a budget of 7.8 trillion Korean won, utilizing domestic technology. DAPA, having delayed contractor selection for two years due to competition, plans to conduct a competitive bidding process and aims to deliver the lead ship to the Navy by the end of 2032.