--- title: "South Korea’s New Destroyer Is Designed To Fire Ballistic Missiles" description: "South Korea's Jeongjo the Great destroyer is the first of a group of warships fitted with supersized vertical launch system cells." date: "2024-12-03" modified: "2024-12-03" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/south-koreas-new-destroyer-is-designed-to-fire-ballistic-missiles" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Destroyers" - "Indo-Pacific" - "Naval Munitions" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Sea" - "South Korea" --- # South Korea’s New Destroyer Is Designed To Fire Ballistic Missiles ![The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) recently commissioned the first of its new KDX-III Batch 2 destroyers, also known as the Sejong Daewang class. Among the many advanced features incorporated in these warships, especially striking is the latest version of the Korean Vertical Launch System — KVLS-II — which is initially planned to hold surface-to-air missiles, but which could well also add land attack cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.]() *via X* The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) recently commissioned the first of its new [KDX-III]() Batch 2 destroyers, ROKS *Jeongjo the Great* — the service’s largest. Among the many advanced features incorporated in these warships, the latest version of the Korean Vertical Launch System — KVLS-II — is especially interesting. While initially expected to accommodate long-range surface-to-air missiles, the launchers are also planned to add ballistic missiles, which are a growing area of interest for South Korea. ROKS *Jeongjo the Great* (pennant number 995) was commissioned on Nov. 27 at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) shipyard in Ulsan after more than two years of trials. This is the first of three KDX-III Batch 2 destroyers, which follow on from the three KDX-III Batch 1 warships that were commissioned between 2008 and 2012. Collectively, the KDX-III warships are also known as the *Sejong Daewang* class. https://twitter.com/KDefenseInsight/status/1861911341449044362 In terms of specifications, *Jeongjo* has an overall length of 558 feet, a beam of 69 feet, and a full displacement of around 12,000 tons. This puts it at the very top end of contemporary destroyers, closer in size to a cruiser, although these definitions have become increasingly subjective. Powered by four gas turbine engines and two auxiliary propulsion systems, the destroyer can reach a top speed of around 30 knots. Compared with the previous KDX-III Batch 1 warships, the Batch 2 features improved sensors and weapons, based on the latest Baseline 9 version of the [Aegis combat system](), including the AN/SPY-1D(V) multifunction radar. Overall, KDX-III Batch 2 [is intended to offer]() enhanced surveillance, strike, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities compared with its predecessors. https://www.twitter.com/mason_8718/status/1862758965547000186 Central to these capabilities are the KDX-III Batch 2’s various vertical launch systems (VLS), which are a unique mix of the [U.S.-made Mk 41](), the locally developed KVLS, and the improved KVLS-II. Of these, the KVLS-II is a new addition to this sub-class. Between them, these provide for a total of 88 launch cells: 48 for the Mk 41, 16 for the K-VLS, and 24 for the KVLS-II. ![]() *Mk 41 VLS cells on the *Jeongjo*, located between the main gun and the Mk 15 Phalanx close-in weapon system (nearest camera). *via X** Altogether, this ‘magazine capacity’ is on par with other high-end surface combatants. For context, the U.S. Navy’s [Flight III *Arleigh Burke* class]() destroyer has 96 VLS cells, while the [*Zumwalt* class]() stealth destroyer has 80 cells, and the Chinese [Type 055 *Renhai* class]() ‘super-destroyer’ has 112 cells. Looking at the specific weaponry for each of these launchers on the KDX-III Batch 2, the Mk 41 will be armed with the Standard Missile (SM) series for longer-range air defense, including anti-ballistic missile capability. These missiles will comprise the [SM-3 Block IB](), [SM-2 Block IIIB](), and [SM-6](). Of these, only the SM-2 Block IIIB is found on the previous KDX-III Batch 1. The [additional missile options]() reflect the importance of the KDX-III Batch 2 to defend against North Korean ballistic missile attacks, while the SM-6 [also offers a surface attack capability]() when launched in a quasi-ballistic mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OU1pUyIzTw The KVLS handles shorter-range air defense needs, being armed with the [Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile]() (K-SAAM), as well as the South Korean-designed [Haeseong Tactical Surface Launch Missile (TSLM)]() for land attack, and the Korean Anti-Submarine Rocket (K-ASROC), also known as the Hong Sang Eo, [or Red Shark](), an anti-submarine weapon that has a homing torpedo as its payload. ![]() *A K-SAAM surface-to-air missile is fired from a vertical launcher. *Agency for Defense Development** ![]() *A diagram of the Korean Vertical Launch System (KVLS). *Agency for Defense Development** Finally, and most intriguingly, there are the KVLS-II cells. These are initially expected to be armed primarily with the [Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile]() (L-SAM), another domestic missile design, also with anti-ballistic missile capability. *A video showing the land-based L-SAM, developed locally by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) as a ‘high-end’ air defense system with significant anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities:* https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ImrPpVUzD0 However, there have long been signs that the KVLS-II will ultimately be used to accommodate other weapons, too. The KVLS-II is currently still under development with Hanwha Defense as a follow-on to the earlier KVLS, which is found on the KDX-III Batch 1 as well as the *Daegu* class frigates. ![]() *The destroyer ROKS *Sejong the Great* (pennant number 991), off the coast of Hawaii during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. This is the first of the KDX-III Batch 1 warships. *Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Raile/Released** In the KDX-III Batch 2, the KVLS-II will be installed as six modules of four missiles each. These are located towards the rear of the vessel, aft of the twin funnels, and ahead of the helicopter flight deck. For the time being, *Jeongjo* is fitted with a test version of the KVLS-II, which appears to consist of just four cells, at least based on photos of the warship under construction. This suggests another five modules will be added at a later date. ![]() *The KVLS-II test configuration on the *Jeongjo* appears to have four cells, seen on the left, next to a KVLS launcher. *via X** The KVLS-II reportedly [retains]() the same ‘hot launch’ operating principle as the KVLS. With a hot launch, the missile’s main rocket booster ignites while it is still inside the launcher, in contrast to a cold launch, where the missile is ejected first, often using a compressed gas generator, before the booster ignites. Most significantly, the KVLS-II is larger than its predecessor, meaning that bigger missiles can be accommodated. According to [available data](), the KVLS-II is at least 3 feet (0.9m) wide and 30 feet (9.1m) deep, compared to 2 feet (0.63m) wide and 22 feet (6.8m) deep for the Mk 41 and KVLS. This equates to the ability to launch much larger weapons with far greater internal volume. https://www.twitter.com/mason_8718/status/1863214139021390283 The KVLS-II will be able to accommodate larger anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. Beyond these, it’s planned that the KVLS-II will be used to deploy ballistic missiles. South Korea’s very active ballistic missile development effort already includes a ship-to-surface ballistic missile program, with research and development work led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). [According to reports](), mass production of the new missile, compatible with the KVLS-II, is expected to begin in 2028 or 2029. Already, there are a number of options for weapons that could be adapted to arm the KDX-III Batch 2 destroyers. One possible candidate would be a surface-ship-launched version of South Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), a weapon that has been test-launched from the ROKN’s [*Dosan Ahn Changho* class]() diesel-electric attack submarine, as well as [from a submerged barge](), and from a ground test facility. ![]() *The submarine ROKS *Dosan Ahn Changho* during trials. *Defense Acquisition Program Administration** Few details about South Korea’s SLBM have been made public, although the country’s media variously describes it as the Hyunmoo-4-4 or the K-SLBM. It reportedly has a range of 311 miles (500km) and is likely a naval variant of the ground-launched [Hyunmoo-2B ballistic missile](). For its sub-launched application, the SLBM uses the cold launch ejection method, again from VLS tubes. ![]() *A South Korean Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile is launched during a joint South Korean/United States military exercise in 2017. *US Army** As well as the SLBM program, South Korea’s ballistic missiles include a range of land-based weapons, too, with more under development. Seoul’s defense budget proposal for 2022-2026 refers to a [new ballistic missile]() capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to three tons, compared to the two tons for the [Hyunmoo 4]() short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), and with a range of between 220 and 250 miles (350 and 400km). According to reports, this new missile would be tailored to destroy hardened underground sites, including North Korea’s nuclear storage facilities. Fielding some kind of ballistic missile on its KDX-III Batch 2 destroyers certainly reflects broader priorities, as stated by the South Korean Ministry of Defense. The country’s wider missile development plan calls for weapons “with significantly enhanced destructive power” as part of its response to North Korea’s growing missile capabilities. With North Korea’s expanding missile arsenal presenting particular risks to ground-based missiles in South Korea, ship-launched ballistic missiles — as well as even more survivable SLBMs — are seen as a very useful addition to Seoul’s armory. An increased focus on ballistic missiles has almost certainly also been spurred by South Korea having stepped away from a series of restrictions on missile ranges that had been in place since 1979, under a bilateral agreement with the United States. Most recently, these put a range cap of 500 miles on South Korean missiles. Since U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to scrap these limits in 2021, South Korea is now able to develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets far beyond the Korean Peninsula. ![]() *President Joe Biden talks during a joint news conference with the then South Korean President Moon Jae-in, in Washington in May 2021. *AP Photo/Alex Brandon** This means that ballistic missiles can potentially be developed for use against threats further afield, including China and Russia. Furthermore, as *TWZ* [has discussed in the past](), there remains a possibility that Seoul may eventually seek to add nuclear warheads to its burgeoning ballistic missile force, although this seems a more remote possibility at this point. In the case of the KDX-III Batch 2 destroyers, the inherent versatility of the KVLS-II system means that the available cells can be loaded with a mixture of weapons. These could include air defense missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and potentially [future hypersonic missiles](). The KVLS, for its part, is also a highly versatile system, covering inner-zone air defense as well as anti-submarine warfare and land attack. https://www.twitter.com/mason_8718/status/1766094867426648157 It should be noted that even without ballistic missiles, the KDX-III Batch 2 warships, and multiple other platforms — surface combatants, submarines, ground launchers, and aircraft — have the ability to launch cruise missiles against targets across North Korea. Still, ballistic missiles continue to offer certain advantages, including superior speed of response and kinetic energy, and a larger warhead, as well as being much harder to defend against. In particular, a missile of this kind would be very well suited to attacking a hardened target at short notice, like [decapitating regime command bunkers]() in the opening phase of a conflict. Increasingly, ballistic missiles are also being [adapted as anti-ship weapons](), as well, something that China has done, in VLS-compatible form, [for its destroyers](). At this stage, however, it’s not clear if South Korea also has an ASBM program. More broadly, the KVLS-II is indicative of a broader trend toward outfitting warships with bigger vertical launch cells, to accommodate new kinds of weapons, including hypersonic missiles, which are typically larger than their subsonic brethren. The U.S. Navy is looking toward larger VLS cells beyond the Mk 41, with the [Mk 57]() being slightly larger, while the *Zumwalt* class [is getting bigger cells for hypersonic weapons](). America's next generation destroyer will likely include some larger VLS cells, as well, and America's future fast attack submarines are already being built with the ability to accommodate larger missiles if need be. Whatever the long-term plan for arming South Korea’s KDX-III Batch 2 warships, once commissioned, these will be some of the most impressive destroyers in service anywhere in the world. At the core of its capabilities will be its extensive and varied vertical launch system cells, of which the KVLS-II brings the option of a very wide range of munitions — including ballistic missiles. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()