The Ship Model Forum

South Korean shipbuilders unveil competing carrier designs
By: Brian Kim ? 13 hours ago
BUSAN, South Korea � Two shipbuilders have each displayed their conceptual designs for the South Korean Navy�s future light aircraft carrier, code-named CVX.
The South Korean companies unveiled their offerings at the four-day International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition, a biennial naval defense show, which began June 9 in the southern port city of Busan.
The MADEX show is taking place four months after South Korea�s arms procurement agency announced the government tentatively earmarked about $2 billion to build a homemade 30,000-ton aircraft carrier to enter service by 2033. The Defense Ministry is conducting a feasibility study of the project for final approval by the National Assembly.
Hyundai Heavy Industries, which had won a contract for the conceptual design of the CVX last year, unveiled an offering that featured a modular, ski jump-styled takeoff ramp, a key feature akin to the British Royal Navy�s Queen Elizabeth class.
The shipyard displayed a 1-to-400 scale model of its proposed carrier, which would be 270 meters long and 60 meters wide. The carrier, with its twin island superstructures, would have a displacement of 30,000-35,000 tons and a full-load displacement of 450,000-500,000 tons, according to an HHI spokesman.

June 1, 2021
South Korea�s New Aircraft Carrier Is Joining the Asian Naval Race
The protection of South Korean citizens in the event of disaster overseas would be a chief objective of this new warship.
by Peter Suciu
Here's What You Need to Remember: In addition to the investments in building the warship, which could exceed $1.8 billion, it has been reported that maintenance and operation of the fleet could cost around $180 million annually. However, the force projection and the ability to counter threats from North Korea are certainly worth every penny.

Navy chief calls for securing light aircraft carrier to boost capabilities
By Yonhap
Published : Jan 4, 2021 - 10:59 Updated : Jan 4, 2021 - 11:04

More article by this Writer

This image, provided by the defense ministry on Aug. 10, 2020, shows the envisioned light aircraft carrier South Korea is pushing to secure by 2033. (Ministry of Defense)
The chief of South Korea's Navy has vowed to make every effort to secure a light aircraft carrier and diverse military assets to boost defense capabilities.

The Navy has sought to build a 30,000-ton-class light aircraft carrier, and the military authorities finalized a plan last week to push for the project in earnest starting this year.

"We should expedite moves to secure diverse future military assets, including a light aircraft carrier, in a timely manner to be fully prepared for future security challenges and to advance our maritime power," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Boo Suk-jong said in his new year message.

Under the 2 trillion-won ($1.74 billion) project, South Korea seeks to put the ship into operation around 2033.
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Now South Korea�s Getting An Aircraft Carrier, Too
David Axe

David AxeContributor

Aerospace & Defense

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An F-35B Lightning II takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS 'America.' U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Theodore Lee

South Korea reportedly plans to order 20 F-35B stealth jump jets, a strong signal that the South Korean navy is moving forward with development of a light aircraft carrier.

A carrier might seem like an odd, even unwise, investment for a country whose major threat�indeed, an existential threat�is a huge land army poised just 30 miles from its capital.

Experts have pointed out the usefulness of a carrier in long-range force-projection in the event South Korea chooses to push back against Chinese expansion and illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea.

But a carrier also could contribute to the South Korean military�s main mission. Beating back an invasion by North Korea.

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South Korea reportedly has decided it wants to add its own F-35s to the allied amphibious fleet. Seoul in 2019 announced construction of a 30,000-ton-displacement variant of the 15,000-ton Dokdo. The so-called �LPH II� is slightly smaller than America is, but roughly matches the Japanese navy�s own Izumo-class light carriers.

It was always possible for the LPH II to embark as many as 16 F-35s. Now it�s becoming clear that Seoul actually intends to do so.

But it�s unclear how much the project might cost. It�s worth pointing out that a Dokdo cost around $300 million. LPH-II�s sticker price could be double that. South Korea�s 20 F-35Bs meanwhile could set back taxpayers several billion dollars.