Hanwha Ocean (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) recently announced that it has been selected by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of South Korea as the preferred bidder for the second batch of the construction project of the fast combat support ship through an exclusive bidding process with a project value of approximately 461 billion won (around $336 million). A construction contract is expected to be signed in August this year, and is scheduled to be delivered to the ROK Navy in December 2028, the company said.
It is reported that the Fast Combat Support Ship, also known as the military support ship and supply ship, is designed to provide ammunition, cargo, fuel, etc. for sailing ships, and can maneuver at high speed like destroyers and frigates during operations and provide supplies for other ships, which can significantly extend the combat time and range of sailing ships.
Hanwha Ocean said the fast combat support ship to be built will be improved based on the problems during the operation of ROKS Soyang, the first South Korean fast combat support ship delivered in 2018, compared to the new ship’s maneuvering speed and load carrying capacity, meaning that it is expected to improve the South Korean Navy’s sustained combat capability.
In 2015, Hanwha Ocean had exported four fast combat support ships to the British Navy, the first time the UK had purchased this ship from overseas, as well as one fast combat support ship with hospital ship functions to Norway.