South Korean Shipyard HHIC Laid the Keel of an Improved Dokdo-type LPH/LPX for ROK Navy
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South Korean Shipyard HHIC Laid the Keel of an Improved Dokdo-type LPH/LPX for ROK Navy
The South Korean defense procurement agency (DAPA) and local shipyard Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) in Busan, held the keel laying ceremony on April 28th for a second Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious assault ship for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy). The launch of the new vessel (designated S139 / LPX) is scheduled for one year from now (April 2018). Delivery of the ship to the ROK Navy fleet is scheduled for 2020.
 
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Naval Industry News - South Korea
 
 
 
South Korean Shipyard HHIC Laid the Keel of an Improved Dokdo-type LPH/LPX for ROK Navy
 
The South Korean defense procurement agency (DAPA) and local shipyard Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) in Busan, held the keel laying ceremony on April 28th for a second Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious assault ship for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy). The launch of the new vessel (designated S139 / LPX) is scheduled for one year from now (April 2018). Delivery of the ship to the ROK Navy fleet is scheduled for 2020.
     
South Korean Shipyard HHIC Laid the Keel of an Improved Dokdo-type LPH/LPX for ROK NavyThe second LPH/LPX for the ROK Navy. DAPA image.
     
HHIC designed and built the first ROK Navy LPH 6111 Dokdo, commissioned in July 2007. Initial plans call for the ROK Navy to have three ships of the class, however, the beginning of construction of the second unit was repeatedly postponed for financial reasons as well as for gaining experience in operating the first ship of the class.

In October 2010, South Korean parliament decided on the construction of the second LPH and after a series of new deferrals on government decisions, on December 23, 2014, DAPA signed a contract with HHIC worth 417.5 billion won (about 380 million dollars) for the construction of this ship.

HHIC completed the technical design review of the ship in March 2016 and cut the first stell in November 2016.
     
South Korean Shipyard HHIC Laid the Keel of an Improved Dokdo-type LPH/LPX for ROK NavyLPX keel laying ceremony at HHIC
     
South Korean media first reported that the second LPH would be significantly larger than Dokdo, the second ship will retain the same length as the Dokdo (200 meters). The DAPA press release confirms that the new ship will be an improved Dokdo.

According to recent South Korean reports, the second ship will receive various improvements in design and equipment compared to Dokdo. Its flight deck will be adapted to accomodate the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft. At the same time, it is stressed that the ship's adaptation to the Lockheed Martin F-35B aircraft is not planned. The diesel main power plant, applied to the Dokdo, may be replaced by a combined diesel-gas turbine.