Korea to Build Light Aircraft Carrier

That bow design is hideous. The entire forward half of the flight deck is only usable for launching aircraft. If they want to design it for STOVL or STOBAR, they should do what the UK did and put the ramp offset to port so you can use the forward deck area to park aircraft during recovery operations or even just for a deck park. You could fit five F-35s up there beside the ramp. (There are photos of that many there on QE). In this design, that's just wasted space. Also, those cut-outs at the forward edge of the flight deck. Looks like they have some sort of BPDMS there. That's more wasted space that could be put to better use by enlarging the flight deck. Those missiles can be put on sponsons where they're out of the way. They should also ditch the port deck edge elevator and put both elevators on the starboard side. One between the islands and one forward of them. Also, that aft island looks like they just copied the forward one to show something there. It needs to be optimized for managing flight operations, not be a secondary/flag bridge.
 
The first carrier with a 5 year manufacturer's warranty! :D

This shows the scale of ambition, there is no doubt that South Korea could build such a ship.
Sure the design has some oddities and suboptimal features but this is just a concept, not a final design. It shows the intent and showcases Hyundai has the appetite to build a big carrier - whether for home or export orders.

I wouldn't worry too much about traditional AEW, within another few years UAVs might have taken over this role with data crunching done aboard ship.
 
Another bad point, though I am not an aircraft carrier operations person: the runway down the centerline would seem to make simultaneous takeoffs and landings a lot more difficult. Having it off the centreline like on the CVFs at least leaves the starboard rear quadrant far from any takeoff turbulence.
 
Last edited:
^ yes i do recall somewhere that while Harrier landings can be hard, the F-35B automated much of it, making it a lot easier.

I also agree with the conflicting deck space issues with STOVL, but during peace time which makes up a majority of the operations is it as nearly a major issue?

the AWACS situation, you're probably right.. it seems Osprey AWACS is very unlikely.. and the Brits last month, decided to nerf their Merlin radar, going for the older model instead of the AESA.

I just found a video of the two carriers.. the actual light carrier (the smaller one), and the new fantasy one.
Interestingly they show a part where theres a diagram that says it can be configured as STOBAR or STOVL.
I am now wondering if this is really intended for India not Korea

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9yZFqFBXHk
Well, you don't design a carrier for peace, you design it for war. Even if you never maximize its full warfighting capability, it's far safer to design it to maximize its usefulness in war and never use it then to say, "who cares about that extra efficiency? 90% of the carrier's life will be spent in peace time." That 10% spent fighting can really come back and bite you.

I doubt it's intended for India. They're already building indigenously. I mean, they might be interested in the base design, but I see a lot of "features" on that ship that any serious carrier Navy is going to nerf immediately.
Its definitely being built for Australia, an obvious and sensible follow on from the SPG and AIFV offers at the moment.;)
 
^ yes i do recall somewhere that while Harrier landings can be hard, the F-35B automated much of it, making it a lot easier.

I also agree with the conflicting deck space issues with STOVL, but during peace time which makes up a majority of the operations is it as nearly a major issue?

the AWACS situation, you're probably right.. it seems Osprey AWACS is very unlikely.. and the Brits last month, decided to nerf their Merlin radar, going for the older model instead of the AESA.

I just found a video of the two carriers.. the actual light carrier (the smaller one), and the new fantasy one.
Interestingly they show a part where theres a diagram that says it can be configured as STOBAR or STOVL.
I am now wondering if this is really intended for India not Korea

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9yZFqFBXHk
Well, you don't design a carrier for peace, you design it for war. Even if you never maximize its full warfighting capability, it's far safer to design it to maximize its usefulness in war and never use it then to say, "who cares about that extra efficiency? 90% of the carrier's life will be spent in peace time." That 10% spent fighting can really come back and bite you.

I doubt it's intended for India. They're already building indigenously. I mean, they might be interested in the base design, but I see a lot of "features" on that ship that any serious carrier Navy is going to nerf immediately.
That's a terrible argument, because you literally can insert any equipment in the blank and use the same logic. What if Huyndais put on display a stealth version of the nimitz sized carrier that can also carry 200 missiles for BMD? That same argument can still be applied but it wouldn't make much sense right? The real issue isn't whether in war you'll need that capability. More capabilities > less capabilities. That much is true but that's not the issue. The issue is with finite fiscal funding, how do you prioritize different spending needs across the board. Overinvesting in one platform type means less funding in another platform.
 
so this CVX news finally made it to Bemil, which is a popular Korean defense blog

the comments are interesting, especially the top comment (translation via google).
very reasonable points but the last one was hilarious

Although this is purely my personal opinion, the aircraft carrier design proposed by Hyundai Heavy Industries seems to be a failure even though it may seem plausible to the general public without knowledge of logistics and movement.

1) A fairly large and valuable space on both sides of the ski jumping platform is wasting.

2) As the aircraft take-off and landing runway is designed to be close to the island, the elevator between the islands and the movement of the aircraft parked next to the first island (forward island) overlap. In other words, it interferes with the main movement of aircraft aircraft and the movement flow for loading, which adversely affects the sortie. With this design, the effect of the angled deck disappears. Furthermore, the route from the elevator for rearming, refueling, etc. of the aircraft parked next to Island 1 is too long, and the space between the island and the runway is too narrow. It is difficult to move equipment and personnel for arming and refueling. (I don't know exactly how far the actual movement will be, but it is from the current photo)

3) The idea of making an unmanned helicopter take-off and landing space by cutting the deck at the back of the hull is absurd. The reason is that the approach path for the landing of the aircraft and the take-off and landing path for the unmanned helicopter are not available. This is because they overlap and seriously interfere with each other's paths. Rather, by extending the upper deck as it is, the space next to the second island (right stern) is increased to secure the UAV operating space. This is more preferable as it avoids path interference.

4) It is unfortunate that the rear space of the stern part cannot be utilized at all. If you are more greedy or more greedy, make a small space in the back of the stern part for aircraft engine maintenance. I think that installing a small elevator is effective in increasing the sorting of the aircraft and improving the maintenance efficiency.

5) I don't know exactly what the partition is on the left side of the drone operation space in the stern, but it's wasting a lot of space. I don't know what you're thinking.

6) The most serious thing is that no matter where the control bridge is located on the 1st island or the 2nd island, the islands interfere with the deck view and are located next to the islands in the bow and stern parts. It is not possible to monitor the aircraft cycle status. This makes it very difficult to control the logistics flow on the deck and can cause serious situations such as collisions of aircraft during movement and interference of routes. Thus, this island-and-deck layout eliminates all of the advantages of having two independent islands, but rather makes it a fatal flaw as an aircraft carrier.

=> If you go according to Hyundai Heavy Industries' design plan, it seems that the operating efficiency of the aircraft will be extremely bad because the aircraft take-off and landing, movement for maintenance, and various helicopter and drone movement paths are intertwined. It seems that the designer has no basic knowledge of moving logistics on deck. When the Japanese people see this design, they will probably laugh and like it very much. Most of all, I am very afraid that the Navy will decide on the design without any thought or concept. If it proceeds like this, it will become a complex with flaws that only accumulates defense spending.

anyways here are the specs. Basically slightly smaller than the Queen Elizabeth Class

2021060900334547010.jpg

2021060900375980951.jpg
 
Last edited:
=> If you go according to Hyundai Heavy Industries' design plan, it seems that the operating efficiency of the aircraft will be extremely bad because the aircraft take-off and landing, movement for maintenance, and various helicopter and drone movement paths are intertwined. It seems that the designer has no basic knowledge of moving logistics on deck. When the Japanese people see this design, they will probably laugh and like it very much. Most of all, I am very afraid that the Navy will decide on the design without any thought or concept. If it proceeds like this, it will become a complex with flaws that only accumulates defense spending.

anyways here are the specs. Basically slightly smaller than the Queen Elizabeth Class

I have to wonder if this is a ploy: SK MoD says "You're right - there are a lot of issues with this design! Hmmm... what about the CVF? It does the same things, and is operational too!"
 
From my couch, I find design to be inefficient one. You've got a Kuznetsov displacement, and yet the ability to rotate aircraft is worse. Kuz design can use both CATOBAR and STOVL planes, has three launch positions. So instead of more short-ranged F-35B one can successfully launch F-35A. And can have actually both. Here it's all limited to STOVL planes, when displacement and size allow for much more.
This is my issue with QE as well.
 
Sensible carrier designs are seemingly very hard to come by. Compromises to be made seems pretty interlocked - and daunting...
 
It seems that the designer has no basic knowledge of moving logistics on deck.
Unless he was assuming or knew that a computer coordinated deck handling system was part of the overall design. Of course, whether such a system would work well in practise...
 
It seems that the designer has no basic knowledge of moving logistics on deck.
Unless he was assuming or knew that a computer coordinated deck handling system was part of the overall design. Of course, whether such a system would work well in practise...
I guess a lot of people think I wrote that. its a translation of what some one on the Korean site wrote.
so I've edited and put it in quotes to avoid confusion
 
Some clarifications.

The now CVX program started as LPX-II as we all know. It initially had a well dock and was planned as LHD style landing ship with F-35B operations in mind. So it was primarily landing ship with some fixed wing operation capabilities. Since ROKN wanted an actual aircraft carrier for almost 2 decades now, they saw it as an opportunity, that they now had an official requirement institution that passed upper DoD approval, which featured a flat deck and was over 30,000 tons (light displacement. All official displacements of any ROKN ships are in light displacement tonnage).

So their first step was to delete the well dock. This wasn't obviously ideal since it meant no more LCAC or amphibious landing vehicles but at least there were precedents like some ships of America class LHA. Sooner ROKN's intentions became more clear that they want an actual aircraft carrier, as they've officially announced that LPX-II was going to be one and it was going to have a single floor hangar. They've also assigned some research programs to universities and shipbuilders to set the exact requirements for the carrier and eventually changed the name of the program from LPX-II to CVX. I would say it's kinda like how Japan built its Izumo class helicopter carriers with clear intentions to use it as a fixed-wing aircraft carrier in the future, which is exactly what they are trying to do right now. In that sense the LPX-II was a mix of Trieste, Izumo and America.

Talking about its displacement, as I've said the official numbers provided by ROKN are light displacement. It should also be considered that already during the LPX-II days the ship was supposed to be considerably bigger than Trieste and was supposed to equal the size or be a bit larger than America class LHA. So it was not going to be straight cut 30,000 tons displacement but rather "30,000 tons class", which means anywhere from 30,000 ~ 39,999 tons light displacement. The loaded displacement was obviously going to be way over 40,000 tons. Also, in ROKN's book a "light carrier" is a ship with a displacement anywhere in between 20,000~50,000 tons. So obviously the CVX is a light carrier in their definition.

Both of the models from DSME and HHI are of their own design. Although DSME's design seems to be way more refined atm. They are both in early stages of the designing process and since DSME is going to cooperate with Fincantieri and HHI with Babcock going forwards, the final product, be it DSME's or HHI's would probably look significantly different to that of what's shown in MADEX 2021.

Talking more about HHI's design, the deck is about 10 m shorter and narrower than that of QE class aircraft carrier. So obviously can't be near the 60,000 tons displacement. The tradeoff for a larger deck, compared to DSME's design, was a smaller internal displacement, especially the hull compartment under the draft. According to HHI they've somehow managed to retain the hangar displacement, but that obviously would mean tradeoffs elsewhere.

Last to add, the speed requirement is said to be 27 knots, which would obviously mean the need for a gas turbine propulsion, probably MT30.
 
more pics from MADEX,
this time from the more realistic model of DSME
I counted max capacity seems to be 24 F-35s and 6 helicopters
45,000 tons


2021061010522224043.jpg

202106101057227241.png

2021061011003228239.png




So which is your pick?

Hyundai or DSME?
2021061011081548191.jpg
 
I counted max capacity seems to be 24 F-35s and 6 helicopters
They said the hangar can fit 12 F-35Bs. Arrangement on the deck would depend on different situations buy you should also take into consideration that only 20 F-35Bs are planned for procurement. Iirc the goal was like 20-ish F-35B alongside 8 MH-60R.
 
Italian firm Fincantieri is officially involved to support Korean firm Daewoo DSME building the first Korean aircraft carrier, the contract was revealed during the recent MADEX 2021, as follows an Italian article about it:


Italy will support the CVX realization starting by the experience gained with the Trieste.
 
Btw, DSME showed 3 different deck size options, ranging from small sized sponson to large sized sponson design. The model presented in MADEX was built based on the medium sized sponson design. The large sized sponson design kind of looks like a mishmash of QE class and Trieste class ships.
 
In going with Hyundai pipedream. There is nothing "light" about that carrier. That thing has got to be at least 60,000 tons if not more. Not to mention, STOVL carriers that big have "buyers remorse" written all over them (look at how the UK tried to reorder the QE class as CATOBAR decks).

yeah I agree. it looks way too large for South Korea's needs, as most of their security threats come from its immediate neighbors.
(unless South Korea is thinking of exporting this design.. perhaps India? they are already actively pushing some armored systems there).

as for large ski jump carriers and buyers remorse..
I personally am on the fence about this.
in the 2000s when the UK was thinking of switching to CATOBAR, I was in the pro F-35C camp and disappointed they didn't go through with the change.

But in retrospect, I now appreciate the benefits of STOVL operations. namely less stress on carrier landings, easier to train pilots, and a rapid launch. It also seems that the 35B can take off at a full load if its launched further back, and has significant bring back capabilities if it does a rolling landing. The remaining issue is an E-2 like early warning capability.. but here's hoping the Osprey gets somewhere with that one day. Should they somehow achieve that (or something similar), does one still want CATOBAR?

STOVL will put weight and range limits on operations, and I think the launch rate suffers as well. Also don't think launches and recoveries can happen at the same time, though I'm not familiar with QE's operations; they are easily the largest of STOVL CVs so perhaps they can manage it. And the E-2 is clearly vastly superior to anything you could bolt on to a MV-22. But there is a much lower cost of ownership in terms of training to go STOVL. From accounts I've heard from test pilots, the F-35B is an absolute dream to land compared to a Harrier.
 
Supposedly HHI is in the leading position to build the CVX, which makes sense since they are the biggest shipyard. HHI won a contract for a conceptual carrier concept last year. DSME's proposal is unsolicited by the ROK Navy.
more pics from MADEX,
this time from the more realistic model of DSME
I counted max capacity seems to be 24 F-35s and 6 helicopters
45,000 tons


2021061010522224043.jpg

202106101057227241.png

2021061011003228239.png




So which is your pick?

Hyundai or DSME?
2021061011081548191.jpg
 
Last edited:
Supposedly HHI is in the leading position to build the CVX, which makes sense since they are the biggest shipyard. HHI won a contract for a conceptual carrier concept last year. DSME's proposal is unsolicited by the ROK Navy.
more pics from MADEX,
this time from the more realistic model of DSME
I counted max capacity seems to be 24 F-35s and 6 helicopters
45,000 tons


2021061010522224043.jpg

202106101057227241.png

2021061011003228239.png




So which is your pick?

Hyundai or DSME?
2021061011081548191.jpg

yeah i was wondering why we are only seeing models from Hyundai and DSME
but not from Hanjin, which built the Dokdo ships.

also.. how often do we see a carrier competition? thats pretty rare isnt it.

so which proposed model do yall prefer?
 
yeah i was wondering why we are only seeing models from Hyundai and DSME
but not from Hanjin, which built the Dokdo ships.
Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction is in a really bad shape atm due to the failed ventures of Subic Bay shipyard in Philippines. It's similar to what STX went through with their Shipyard in China.

During 2000s Korean shipbuilders thought it was a great idea to go to China or SEA and build big shipyards there, as shipbuilding is a very labour intensive industry and labour costs in those region were dirt cheap. In reality, it turned out to be that the workers in those countries were substandard, not only the quality but also quantity wasn't able to meet their expectations and the overall productivity stayed well under 30% when compared to shipyards in Korea (their goal was to bring those numbers up to or over 70%).

That, coupled with Hanjin's lack of technologies to build high value-high margin ships like LNG/LPG or ethanol carriers, points torwards less than optimal financial outlook for the company. In fact, there's an ongoing acquisition of Hanjin HI&C by a Korean construction company and rumors are, they will only going to take over the construction division and liquidate the shipyard in Busan.

To add, I would also want DSME or Hyundai HI to build my flagship if I were to be ROKN top brass.
 
Last edited:
(South) Korean shipbuilders thought it was a great idea to go to China

... a country actively supporting their country worse ennemy: North Korea.

Yeah, great idea !

...greed and profits sometimes lead to stupid decisions...
 
Last edited:
(South) Korean shipbuilders thought it was a great idea to go to China

... a country actively supporting their country worse ennemy: North Korea.

Yeah, great idea !

...greed and profits sometimes lead to stupid decisions...
China is also the number one export market for Korea: https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/chn/partner/kor . Both China and South Korea need each other long term to sustain their industries. The ROK will sooner decouple from the US than China, and the expansion of south korean military capabilities to allow it to operate independently from the US will lessen its reliance on US military and the US long term. For south koreans, north korea is an afterthought and the NK leadership doesn't want war anyways with the south.
 
yeah i was wondering why we are only seeing models from Hyundai and DSME
but not from Hanjin, which built the Dokdo ships.
Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction is in a really bad shape atm due to the failed ventures of Subic Bay shipyard in Philippines. It's similar to what STX went through with their Shipyard in China.

During 2000s Korean shipbuilders thought it was a great idea to go to China or SEA and build big shipyards there, as shipbuilding is a very labour intensive industry and labour costs in those region were dirt cheap. In reality, it turned out to be that the workers in those countries were substandard, not only the quality but also quantity wasn't able to meet their expectations and the overall productivity stayed well under 30% when compared to shipyards in Korea (their goal was to bring those numbers up to or over 70%).

That, coupled with Hanjin's lack of technologies to build high value-high margin ships like LNG/LPG or ethanol carriers, points torwards less than optimal financial outlook for the company. In fact, there's an ongoing acquisition of Hanjin HI&C by a Korean construction company and rumors are, they will only going to take over the construction division and liquidate the shipyard in Busan.

To add, I would also want DSME or Hyundai HI to build my flagship if I were to be ROKN top brass.
Yes there is a big difference between smashing out bulk carriers, container ships and oil tankers verses more complex commercial types and modern warships. Had a circular argument with a troll on another site about the true differences in building costs, my argument was as the skills and experience of the workforce increased, so did the costs initially and you ended up paying for low cost labour through poor quality. There is a sweet spot that requires continuous build programs where the work forces skills build to the point you start making significant efficiency savings.
 
besides the light carrier
looks like Korea is trying to push India to buy the new DSME 3000 submarine


202106190646394433.jpg


I think India should work with the Koreans on many areas. They both have a common threat in the form of the PRC.
Instead of MCA, they should just join KAI and invest in completing the IWB version of the KFX and buy that as their MCA and get the license to build locally.
 
It should be remembered that 'short range of F-35B is nothing of the sort compared with Harrier, Harrier II, or Hornet.

But it should also be remembered that STOVL ops are proven in weather conditions of appropriate concern for the South Korea Navy.
As it is in multiple safe recoveries at the 'cost' of limited launching.
 
looks like Korea is trying to push India to buy the new DSME 3000 submarine

Kind of funny, but the first submarine ROK navy acquired in 1987 was the same model (Type 209) that India had acquired about 6 years earlier, with all the license-and-build rights.

Now about 30 years later, SK is trying to sell boats evolved from that very deal (license and build) to India whose benefits the latter basically squandered. Not to forget India has been operating submarines since 1967(Foxtrot class) and South Korea commissioned its first boat in 1993.

Barometer_P75-I-1200x6000.jpg
 
Last edited:
^ thats funny
but to be honest (and I hope people don't take it personally because some one always does..)
but the Korean defense industries seem to show far better project management.
India is having a hard time getting the Arjun up to task, but the Koreans pumped out a ton of K1 and now K2 tanks
the Golden Eagle seems to be more of a success than Tejas
and the KF-21 will be flying soon.. while AMCA TEFX and whatever, are still just digital models.
 
^ thats funny
but to be honest (and I hope people don't take it personally because some one always does..)
but the Korean defense industries seem to show far better project management.
India is having a hard time getting the Arjun up to task, but the Koreans pumped out a ton of K1 and now K2 tanks
the Golden Eagle seems to be more of a success than Tejas
and the KF-21 will be flying soon.. while AMCA TEFX and whatever, are still just digital models.
What is even more ironical is that India has actually built and operationalised(?)
an SSBN and CV, programs for both of which Korea is trying to get on track, but its the Indian conventional programs that just normally hit the dirt.
 
new CG video of the 40,000 ton carrier from Daewoo


fits 12 F-35 in the hangar, no space for helicopters
a bit smaller than the 30,000 ton Cavour. a bit surprised
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ti92QEyfM
 
Last edited:
fits 12 F-35 in the hangar, no space for helicopters
a bit smaller than the 30,000 ton Cavour. a bit surprised

South Korea is kind of trapped between three tentative models
- the french Charles de Gaulle: small / medium CATOBAR yet an expensive one-shot even if it had not been nuclear (Foch and Clemenceau before it)
- the italian way (VSTOL F-35s on much enlarged LHD /LHAs)
- the chinese possible ennemy (full blown 90 000 tons CATOBAR)

Resource-wise, Korea is clearly closer from France and Italy than from China. And just like the latter, they have access to VSTOL F-35B - so why bother with 40 000 tons+ to 100 000 tons ruinous CATOBARs ?

I often think that, of the three F-35 variants, the B is the most impressive. Somewhat remarquably, it brings together
- AMRAAM
- stealth
- supersonic speed
- VSTOL

It is a giant first in aviation history; very much Harrier + F-18 + F-22 capabilities into the same airframe.

Quite remarquable. And very useful to counter the Chinese 100 000 tons CATOBARs - with more affordable 30 000 tons ships; for those countries who don't have China colossal resources, budget and manpower.

I would say that it is quite a logical move for Japan and South Korea.
 
fits 12 F-35 in the hangar, no space for helicopters
a bit smaller than the 30,000 ton Cavour. a bit surprised

South Korea is kind of trapped between three tentative models
- the french Charles de Gaulle: small / medium CATOBAR yet an expensive one-shot even if it had not been nuclear (Foch and Clemenceau before it)
- the italian way (VSTOL F-35s on much enlarged LHD /LHAs)
- the chinese possible ennemy (full blown 90 000 tons CATOBAR)

Resource-wise, Korea is clearly closer from France and Italy than from China. And just like the latter, they have access to VSTOL F-35B - so why bother with 40 000 tons+ to 100 000 tons ruinous CATOBARs ?

I often think that, of the three F-35 variants, the B is the most impressive. Somewhat remarquably, it brings together
- AMRAAM
- stealth
- supersonic speed
- VSTOL

It is a giant first in aviation history; very much Harrier + F-18 + F-22 capabilities into the same airframe.

Quite remarquable. And very useful to counter the Chinese 100 000 tons CATOBARs - with more affordable 30 000 tons ships; for those countries who don't have China colossal resources, budget and manpower.

I would say that it is quite a logical move for Japan and South Korea.
You can add to the F-35 capability list their outstanding integrated ISREW systems and sensor fusion. Out of the box there are few specialised platforms and probably no podded options that give a better capability in those areas.

It would be worth adding F-35 to any large flat deck ship just for the added situational awareness its systems provide to the task force, let alone the actual combat power.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom