In early May, the fourth KDX-II-class destroyer, Wang Geon , was launched at Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The warship is the fourth of a six-ship class. The first of the class, Choong Moo Gong Lee Soon Shin (pictured right) entered service in 2003. The last of the class is scheduled to enter service by 2008. In addition to the 5,000-ton (full load) KDX-II-class of warships, the South Korean Navy also operates three KDX-I-class destroyers, which entered service between 1998 and 2000. The newest and most capable KDX warships will be the three KDX-III guided missile destroyers, due to enter service between 2008 and 2012. These warships will have a full load displacement of roughly 7,000 tons (twice that of the KDX-I-class) and will be equipped with the Lockheed-Martin SPY-1 series Aegis combat system.
