South Korea Approves Plan to Develop Six Aegis-equipped Destroyers

South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has approved plan to develop six Aegis- equipped destroyer for an estimated cost of $6 billion.

The Defense Project Promotion Committee has decided on the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) project, under which the country will locally develop the destroyer by the late 2020s with a budget of around 1.8 trillion won (US$1.59 billion), DAPA said Wednesday.

Six KDDX destroyers will be deployed by mid or late 2030s. The total cost of developing and producing the six vessels is expected to top 7 trillion won (US $6 billion), Yonhap news agency reported.

"The KDDX is a project to procure destroyers for the purpose of safeguarding maritime interests and responding to potential disputes at sea," the DAPA said in a press release following the committee session presided over by Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo.