The South Korean Navy has been engaged, for the last twenty years, in a profound mutation aiming at acquiring high sea and projection capabilities, concomitantly with the development of its naval defense industry, which today even manages to win in international competitions. It now has 20 attack submarines, 12 destroyers, as many frigates, and 10 assault ships including 2 LHD class Doko (plus one in manufacturing), gauges 18.000 tons and can project 700 men and 200 vehicles.
She is also involved in several programs of advanced combat ships, asDosan Ahn Changho attack submarines of 3700 tons, with 9 units ordered, KDX-III and KDX-IV destroyers, or the Daegu frigates of 3500 tons, with 8 units on order. But beyond modernizing its current capabilities, the South Korean Navy has also announced the construction of new major units, such as the two 30.000-ton assault aircraft carriers whose development was announced in July 2019, designed to be able to implement 16 F35B aircraft, and to reinforce the very limited naval air capabilities of the current Doko.
3 programs perfectly illustrate this South-Korean ambition to have, at the 2040 horizon, a first-class Navy, which would surpass even the best European navies, such as the Royal Navy or the French Navy:
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