Hanwha Ocean’s selection to design and build South Korea’s next-generation destroyer has ended nearly two years of procurement paralysis, but it has left the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) responsible for managing a difficult handover between two rival shipbuilders on an already delayed schedule.

DAPA signeda $585.6 million (837.9 billion won) contract with Hanwha Ocean on July 31 for the detailed design and construction of the first Korean Next Generation Destroyer (KDDX). The navy plans to acquire six ships, beginning with delivery of the lead vessel in 2032 and orders for the remaining five from late 2028. All six