Group : Frigates
Status : Active
Also Known As : DDH-I Gwanggaetodaewang, Korea Destroyer Program
Origin : South Korea
Contractors : DSME*, Doosan Infracore
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1998
Total Production : 3

The KDX program was launched as a replacement for aging ex-US Navy ships owned by the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). The weapon system relies upon Alenia Marconi System's SSCS Mk 7 Combat Management System with its 10 multi-functional consoles for planning, executing and monitoring warfare engagements such as SeaSparrow or Harpoon missiles launch.

Originally 12 KDX ships were planned to be built but the Republic of Korea discontinued KDX I production favoring larger and more capable ships such as KDX-II and KDX-III destroyers. The KDX-II ships raise from three, as initially planned, to six and the three planned KDX-III destroyers will bring the total number of KDX destroyers to be procured by RoKN to 12.

The KDX-I class destroyers have been designed to perform as a multi-purpose surface combatant with enhanced self-defense capability.