Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration unable to decide on business method for next-generation destroyer... Further discussions to be held

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) discussed the project implementation method for the design and construction of the Korean Destroyer (KDDX) on the 17th but was unable to reach a conclusion.
According to military authorities and related industries, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration held a project planning and management subcommittee meeting at 2 p.m. on the same day and announced that KDDX's basic design contractor, Hyundai Heavy Industries HD,
They discussed possible options, including a discretionary contract with Hanwha Ocean, competitive bidding involving the participation of Hanwha Ocean, and joint design and construction by the two companies.
The meeting, which was expected to end around 4 p.m., continued until 5:30 p.m.
In the end, no conclusion was reached, and it was decided to hold another subcommittee meeting before the Defense Project Promotion Committee meeting on the 2nd of next month for additional discussions.
A Defense Acquisition Program Administration official said, "The details of the specific cases and the results of the subcommittee's decision will be decided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration."
"However, we have decided not to disclose the details until the Defense Project Promotion Committee makes a final decision in accordance with the integrity pledge system under Article 6 of the Defense Industry Act," he said. "However, we will continue to thoroughly consider the reasons for the discretionary contract and the joint development plan, etc.
"We decided to hold a discussion," he said. There were strong differences of opinion regarding the promotion of the project through a negotiated contract with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and the cooperation plan in which Hanwha Ocean could participate.
The meeting was reportedly attended by around 20 members from within and outside the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. KDDX is building the first domestically produced Yi Jisoo-class destroyer, with the hull and Yi Jisoo combat system built entirely using domestic technology.
A total of six ships are planned to be built, with the cost of the project reaching 7.8 trillion won (US$7.7 billion). The ship research and development project will involve the conceptual design for the decision-making stage, the subsequent basic design, detailed design and
The construction of the lead ship will be carried out in that order, followed by the construction of the follow-on ships, etc. Among these, detailed design and construction of the lead ship will be carried out by the basic design contractor as per regulations.
In the past, when Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering was in charge of the conceptual design, Hanwha Ocean was in charge of the basic design.
However, after Hyundai Heavy Industries employees were found guilty of leaking military secrets, including the conceptual design of KDDX, Hanwha Ocean was awarded the contract through competitive bidding rather than a discretionary contract.
With the project in limbo for over a year amid related lawsuits, accusations and investigations, some have raised the issue of "joint design" and "joint construction."
The Health and Welfare Agency reportedly decided that this method posed the greatest risk and proposed a cooperation model between a main operator and a sub-operator.