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South Korean HD Hyundai Proposes HDF-6000 Frigate for Saudi Navy Future Surface Combatant Fleet.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is positioning its HDF 6000 frigate as the core platform in a bid for Saudi Arabia’s next-generation surface combatant program at the World Defense Show in Riyadh. The campaign highlights not only a modern frigate design, but a wider offer focused on local shipbuilding, technology transfer, and long-term sustainment inside the Kingdom.
On 8 February 2026, as the World Defense Show opened its doors in Riyadh, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed to Army Recognition Group that it is conducting an intensive campaign to secure Saudi Arabia’s future frigate requirement, with the HDF-6000 presented as the centerpiece of a broader proposal combining naval capability and industrial partnership inside the Kingdom. The shipbuilder is not only promoting a new surface combatant, but also a framework for local construction, technology participation, and long-term sustainment aligned with Saudi ambitions to expand domestic defense production.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries used the opening of the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh to position its HDF 6000 frigate as the centerpiece of a Saudi next-generation naval fleet bid, pairing the warship with a broader offer of local construction, technology participation, and long-term sustainment inside the Kingdom (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
Running from 8 to 12 February, WDS 2026 is gathering hundreds of defense companies and official delegations, offering a high-visibility platform for suppliers to position themselves in upcoming procurement programs. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is appearing alongside other South Korean defense firms in a coordinated national presence, emphasizing its ability to deliver integrated maritime solutions. Within that offering, the HDF-6000 is clearly framed as the candidate intended to anchor a new generation of large surface combatants for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
The HDF-6000 is described as a 6,500-ton class multi-mission frigate designed for extended blue-water operations. According to the specifications released by the company, the vessel has a displacement of about 6,500 tonnes, an overall length of 150 meters, a beam of 17.4 meters, and a draught of 5.1 meters. Maximum speed is given as 29 knots, while endurance can reach up to 45 days with a sailing range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles. These figures place the design in the upper segment of the frigate category, offering the size and autonomy required for sustained regional and expeditionary missions.
The mission profile communicated by the manufacturer spans the full spectrum of maritime warfare. The ship is intended to perform anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, electronic, and asymmetric warfare tasks while supporting sea control and power-projection objectives. It is also presented as capable of defending national waters, including against tactical ballistic missile threats. Beyond combat operations, the frigate is planned to support maritime patrol, interdiction, protection of sea lines of communication, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, naval diplomacy, and search and rescue duties in peacetime or crisis situations. This versatility is a key selling point for navies that must handle both high-intensity threats and routine security responsibilities.
The combat architecture centers on a vertical launch system comprising 48 cells. This capacity allows naval planners to tailor the embarked missile mix according to mission requirements, whether oriented toward air defense, missile defense, or strike roles. For surface warfare, the ship carries two sets of inclined launchers, each accommodating four anti-ship missiles. A main naval gun is installed forward, while close-range protection is ensured by a close-in weapon system. Additional defensive layers include two 20 mm remote weapon stations and four heavy machine-gun positions intended to counter small craft, asymmetric threats, and low-flying targets.
Underwater warfare capabilities are supported by two triple torpedo launchers. Survivability is reinforced through two decoy systems, an electronic warfare suite, a laser warning receiver, and a dedicated counter-drone capability reflecting the increasing role of unmanned aerial systems in contemporary maritime environments.
The sensor suite described by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries includes a multi-function radar, a fire-control radar, and an identification friend or foe system. Electro-optical and infrared coverage is provided by an electro-optical tracking system and an infrared search and track sensor, enabling passive detection and engagement options. Subsurface awareness is supported by systems identified as HMS and TASS, integrated into the broader combat management architecture to provide layered detection and tracking across domains.
Aviation facilities are integral to the design. The frigate’s hangar is sized to host one MH-60R helicopter, a widely deployed platform for anti-submarine and maritime security missions. In addition, provision is made for operating up to three S-300 unmanned aerial vehicles, expanding surveillance reach, targeting capacity, and operational flexibility. Growth margins are visible in the layout, with extra room for two containerized mission modules and a large topside area reserved for potential future weapon or sensor installations as technologies evolve.
Propulsion is offered in a selectable configuration. The baseline arrangement is CODLOG, combining gas turbines and electric propulsion motors to balance high-speed performance with efficient cruising. A CODOG configuration is available as an alternative. The machinery package comprises two gas turbines, two propulsion motors, single-input single-output reduction gears, and four diesel generator sets supplying electrical power for both ship systems and propulsion needs. This architecture supports the published speed and range figures while providing flexibility for varied operational profiles. Accommodation for roughly 110 personnel is foreseen for sustained, full-spectrum deployments.
From a naval-engineering perspective, the platform incorporates shaping measures associated with reduced detectability, together with an enclosed mooring deck that contributes both to signature management and equipment protection. The bow is optimized for fuel efficiency, and survivability considerations are integrated into the structural design. Large access hatches are included to facilitate machinery removal and overhaul, an element intended to simplify maintenance planning and reduce time spent in dock.
At WDS, these characteristics are being tied directly to an industrial message. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries presents the HDF-6000 as a mature solution drawing on technologies already implemented across its naval portfolio, while stressing its experience in cooperating with overseas partners on construction and life-cycle support. The company is proposing a pathway in which an increasing share of production and sustainment activities could be transferred to Saudi facilities, notably through the International Maritime Industries shipyard, should the program proceed.
For Saudi decision-makers, the proposal therefore extends beyond the acquisition of a warship. It combines a large, heavily equipped frigate capable of ballistic missile defense, deep-strike potential, aviation operations, and multi-domain warfare with an offer aimed at strengthening national industrial capacity. By coupling platform delivery with local participation and supply-chain development, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is positioning the HDF-6000 as both an operational asset and an instrument of long-term maritime industrial growth.