HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will take part in the Middle East's largest defense exhibition and begin a full-fledged push to win Saudi Arabia's next-generation frigate program.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said on the 8th it will participate in the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026, which runs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through the 12th local time.
At this exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will set up a joint pavilion with LIG Nex1, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and EOST to comprehensively showcase advanced warship construction technology and maritime defense capabilities.
Held every two years, WDS this year draws 770 defense corporations from 76 countries worldwide, and is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors. Key decision-makers in the global defense market, including the Middle East, are expected to gather in one place.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is targeting the Saudi government's navy modernization program, including the introduction of new frigates. To that end, it will unveil a total of eight warship types, including the 6,000-ton export frigate HDF-6000.
The HDF-6000 was developed based on the technology and know-how of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which consecutively built the Sejong the Great-class destroyer and the Jeongjo the Great-class destroyer, both regarded as world-class Aegis destroyers. It is designed as an Aegis-class frigate that is larger than existing frigates and significantly upgrades onboard equipment and performance.
At this exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to emphasize package solutions for Saudi's navy modernization program to key officials from the Ministry of National Defense of Saudi Arabia and the navy. The company said it will actively present its capabilities in design, construction, and program management, as well as its track record in local construction and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) through Peru's SIMA Shipyard.
In line with the Saudi government's policy to raise the local production ratio, the company also plans to present a local construction plan in Saudi Arabia. If it wins the frigate order, it is considering a plan to gradually increase the local construction share of the HDF-6000 centered on Saudi IMI Shipyard, jointly invested in by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Saudi state-owned Aramco.
During WDS, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will also sign a joint MOU for building a local supply chain in Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and 12 domestic corporations, including LIG Nex1 and STX Engine. Through this, it aims to establish cooperation plans for the Saudi Industrial Participation Program (IPP) and make a joint push into the Saudi market.
Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, "We will do our best to win Saudi Arabia's next-generation frigate program with a local construction and industrial cooperation strategy that leverages IMI, the largest shipyard in the Middle East and North Africa."