韩国军方旨在加速收购轻型航空母舰
10月8日，汉城国防部的官员对简斯说。
JCS希望将航母的基本设计包括在MND的国防中期计划中
涵盖2021至25年，这意味着设计工作最早可以在明年开始。
根据RoKN的数据，基本设计的完成将花费大约三年的时间，还需要七年的时间。
进行详细的设计和施工，这意味着该航母最早可在2031年交付。
Depending on how long the sea trials period takes, the carrier could be operational between one and two years earlier than initially planned.
The 30,000–35,000 tonne carrier, which is being acquired under the LPX-II project,is expected
- to support operations of helicopters
- short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft
such as the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
This means that
the MND will also try to speed up the introduction of STOVL fighter aircraft, with MND officials telling Janes that the procurement process for the fighters is expected to begin “in earnest” next year.
The RoKN is believed to have an initial requirement for about 20 such aircraft.
While the exact type of STOVL aircraft
has yet to be determined, the Yonhap News Agencyreported in August that it is likely to be the F-35B, adding that it is the only model that meets the RoKN’s requirement.