ROK KDDX destroyer moves into detailed design with 5G, digital twin, anti-drone suite

South Korea has signed the main contract to begin detailed design and lead-ship construction of the KDDX next-generation destroyer, incorporating a digital-twin shipbuilding framework, an integrated 5G onboard network, and a dedicated multi-layered counter-UAS suite. These features indicate a push toward more network-centric operations and built-in defenses against drone threats on a major surface combatant.