HHI Completes Concept Design Of ROK Navy’s Next-Generation OPV

[Zarvan]

Computer rendering of the next generation OPV of the ROK Navy. The design features a 76mm main gun, two RWS, MASS decoy launchers, four K-VLS cells, some kind of loitering ammunition launcher and four anti-ship missiles at the stern. The shape of the bridge / pilot house is quite unusual and appears to be similar in concept to the Italian Navy's PPA "cockpit". HHI image.

HHI Completes Concept Design Of ROK Navy’s Next-Generation OPV​

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced today that it has completed the conceptual design for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy's next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).​

Naval News Staff 07 Jul 2023

HHI press release issued in Korean – Translated by Naval News

The next-generation OPV will incorporate AI technology to achieve automation and unmanned capabilities, thereby reducing manpower requirements.

HHI has demonstrated its technological capabilities in the research and development of future naval vessels by completing the conceptual design for the next-generation OPV of the ROK Navy. HHI had previously developed standardized platforms for 1,500-ton and 2,200-ton export-type OPVs, and following that success, secured a contract for six 2,450-ton-class OPVs for the Philippines. The conceptual design for the next-generation OPV of the ROK Navy shares similarities with the OPVs previously ordered by the Philippines.

As seen on HHI stand at MADEX 2023: OPV design evolution from the HDP-1500neo unveiled a few years back to the next-generation OPV.

The research and development results of the next-generation OPV during the final meeting of the conceptual design was held at the ROK Navy Headquarters on July 7th. The meeting was organized by the Chief of the Ship Design Technology Department of the Naval Power Analysis, Testing, and Evaluation Team. Starting from July 2022, HHI collaborated closely with relevant agencies, including the Ship Design Technology Department of the ROK Navy, for a period of 12 months to complete the development of the next-generation OPV. The results of this collaborative effort were presented during the meeting.

HHI, which has been extensively involved in the ROK Navy’s shipbuilding projects, particularly the next-generation Korean Destroyer (KDDX), utilized its accumulated design expertise in the field of surface vessels and combined it with advanced technological capabilities to undertake the conceptual design for the current project.

The next-generation OPV designed by HHI incorporates advanced AI-based technology, enabling significant automation and unmanned capabilities. The conceptual design includes enhancements in weapon detection and performance and proposes a manpower-efficient vessel design that significantly reduces the crew size.

During this research process, the ROK Navy and HHI have developed a platform that maximizes weight, recoverability, and payload space to ensure continuous integration of the latest technologies even after the construction of the OPV.

Additionally, the conceptual design results include various proposals for acquiring new systems, identifying key technological requirements, and addressing Required Operational Capability (ROC) as well as vessel design and construction requirements. These findings are expected to make a significant contribution to shaping the future direction of the ROK Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel program.

The ROK Navy evaluated that the efficiency of this conceptual research for the next-generation OPV, which requires the application of various design factors including future technologies and manpower reduction, was enhanced by the ROK Navy’s dedicated conceptual design team and Hyundai Heavy Industries’ technical support team forming a unified “One Team.” They conducted over 50 practical meetings using a sprint meeting approach over a period of 12 months. This close collaboration and rapid decision-making process led to satisfactory results, according to their assessment.

Mr. Lee Sang-bong, in charge of design at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Special Ship Programs Division, who led the research and development of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), stated:

“Building upon our expertise in developing standardized platforms for export-type Offshore Patrol Vessels and our R&D capabilities, Hyundai Heavy Industries successfully completed the conceptual research of a future-oriented vessel design.”

On the other hand, the conceptual design of the vessel is a planning and design phase led by the ROK Navy to derive the operational concept and operational performance requirements of the desired vessel. In the case of the research and development of the next-generation OPV, which involved the solidification of 3D shapes and equipment integration, the Navy and HHI signed a research contract in July 2022 to provide specialized technical support.

HHI Completes Concept Design of ROK Navy’s Next-Generation OPV

HHI has completed the conceptual design for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy's next-generation OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel).

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