Hanwha Ocean is building the lead KDDX, which will be part of South Korea’s first destroyer program designed and constructed domestically. The guided-missile ships are intended to meet the multi-mission demands of the country’s blue-water naval force.
Under the contract, Leonardo DRS will supply an integrated system using its 100-Series permanent-magnet propulsion motors and compact variable-frequency drives. Doosan and DRS will work together on electrical and mechanical equipment running from the prime movers to the propellers.
The electric architecture is designed to combine propulsion with the power needed by increasingly demanding sensors, weapons and mission systems. It is also intended to reduce the space required for machinery and give designers greater flexibility in configuring the ships.
“Modern naval platforms require electric power and propulsion systems that can meet current operational demands while providing the flexibility to support future mission needs,” said John Baylouny, president and chief executive officer of Leonardo DRS. “Our advanced electric-propulsion technologies are designed to deliver the power capacity, efficiency, reliability and adaptability required for advanced radars, advanced EW systems, directed energy systems, the charging of unmanned vehicles, the launch of drone swarms and other increasingly power-intensive mission capabilities.”
Leonardo DRS said its permanent-magnet technology provides high torque density in a compact design, reducing size and weight compared with conventional electric machines. The paired variable-frequency drive is intended to deliver precise propulsion control and improve efficiency.
The system will be designed, manufactured and delivered by Leonardo DRS. It must meet military requirements for power quality, shock and vibration, along with the Republic of Korea Navy’s operational standards.
The KDDX award expands the company’s existing role in South Korean naval programs. Leonardo DRS has supplied hybrid-electric drive systems for 20 anti-submarine warfare frigates in the FFX Batch II, III and IV programs.
“DRS is proud to support the Republic of Korea Navy’s KDDX destroyer program with proven electric propulsion technology,” said Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Naval Power Systems at Leonardo DRS. “For more than a decade our systems have supported Republic of Korea Navy FFX II/III/IV frigates, and we have demonstrated the ability to scale our electric-propulsion technology for the most demanding naval applications, including the COLUMBIA-class submarine program.”
The contract moves DRS technology from hybrid propulsion on South Korean frigates to full-electric drive on a larger class of front-line surface combatants. The KDDX program is intended to provide the navy with an electrical foundation that can support future upgrades and more power-intensive systems.
