North Korea Commissions First Guided-Missile Destroyer, Plans Cruiser

On June 23, 2026, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – DPRK) formally commissioned its largest-ever warship, the first of four 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) currently under construction. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the commissioning of the Choe Hyon (51) on Wednesday at the Nampo shipyard on the country’s western coast. During the commissioning ceremony, Kim Jong Un used the occasion to outline the next phase of North Korea’s naval modernization program. He announced that the second destroyer in Choe Hyuon-class, Kang Kon (52) is expected to enter service in the near future and revealed plans to follow the current destroyer program with a new class of 10,000-ton cruisers. My story for Naval News, here.

North Korea’s New Destroyer Sets Sail for the First Time, Tests Missile Systems

On March 3 and 4, in the presence of Kim Jong Un, the North Korean Navy conducted tests to assess the operational capabilities of its new 5,000-ton destroyer, Choe Hyon (51). The North Korea’s largest and by far its most advanced surface warship, sailed under its own power for the first time since April 25, 2025. During its earlier trial, several weapon launches had been carried out, although the ship had been towed rather than operating independently. According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un inspected the destroyer to observe the crew’s combat and political training and to oversee the shakedown process intended to evaluate the vessel’s operational performance. Accompanying him were Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) officials, senior military officials and officials from the warship-building sector. My story for Naval News, here.

North Korea’s New Destroyer Reemerges with Major Modifications

North Korea showcased its newest and most advanced warship, the 142-meter missile destroyer Choe Hyon, during the opening ceremony of the annual “Defense Development 2025” exhibition, held for the third consecutive year, on October 5, 2025 in Pyongyang to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The event was an opportunity for North Korea to present adjustments and refinements made to the destroyer over six months of post-launch work since her official commissioning in April 25, 2025. The display precedes the destroyer’s planned redeployment to the east coast early next year. My story for Naval News, here.

Japan’s ASEV Super Destroyer: Fresh Details Unveiled

At the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) 2025 in Abu Dhabi, a mock-up of Japan’s under-development AEGIS System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) was displayed. The stealth guided-missile destroyer that will specialize in ballistic missile defense (BMD) — larger than any other destroyer in the world, excluding the unique Zumwalt-class of US Navy — revealed intriguing details about the configuration of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) so-called “super destroyer.” With capabilities and size seemingly surpassing China’s Renhai-class (Type 055) 180-meter cruiser, the ASEV is set to become a symbol of pride for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). My story (together with Kosuke Takahashi) for Naval News, here.

INFOGRAPHICS #58: Future Surface Combatants Vol. III (Arrowhead 140PL, Thaon di Revel-class, F126-class)

Written by D-Mitch

In this post, I include some of the infographics I made and published on social media, about new surface combatants that are under construction and about to enter service in the near future.

 

1. Arrowhead 140PL type frigates of the Polish Navy (3 ships)

Arrowhead 140PL class frigate of the Polish Navy

INFOGRAPHICS #57: Future Surface Combatants Vol. II (DDX, Istif-class and FAC55-class)

Written by D-Mitch

In this post, I include some of the infographics I made and published on social media, about new surface combatants that are under construction and about to enter service in the near future.

 

1. DDX (under development) class destroyer of the Italian Navy (2 ships) 

 

DDX (unknown class), the future destroyer of the Italian Navy. High resolution image here.

 

INFOGRAPHICS #43: Future Surface Combatants Vol. I (Type 26, MMSC SA, Sa'ar 6-class)

Written by D-Mitch

In this post, I include some of the infographics I made and published on social media, about new surface combatants that are under construction and about to enter service in the near future.

 

1. City-class (Type 26) frigate of the Royal Navy (8 ships) 

Type 26 - City class frigate of the Royal Navy. High resolution image here.

INFOGRAPHICS #41: The United States Navy cruisers and destroyers in 2019

Written by D-Mitch

US Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers and Ticonderoga class cruisers

In the following infographic, The United States Navy Cruisers & Destroyers in 2019, I depict all the cruisers and destroyers that will be in active service with the United States Navy by December 31, 2019. A similar graph (#1) titled The United States Navy Submarines in 2019, illustrates all the submarines that are in active service with the United States Navy in February 2, 2019. Currently, the United States Navy operates a massive amount of powerful guided missile large surface combatants,  92 in total (!), consisting of two 190-meter Zumwalt class destroyers (DDG) (which are actually 16,000ton cruisers) with one more vessel to join the fleet this year, 22 Ticonderoga class cruisers (CG) and 66 Arleigh Burke class destroyers with two more vessels to join the fleet this year. The Ticonderoga class cruisers are "double enders", and along with the Zumwalt class "destroyers", are the only surface combatants in the US fleet that can employ two large caliber guns simultaneously. Ticonderogas have received several upgrades including the removal of the AN/SPS-49 radar and the installation of the SPQ-9B radar on the first 11 vessels in the class. Currently, the US Navy has no frigates in the fleet. However, if the littoral combat ships of the Freedom and Independence classes will receive anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile weapons, they will be considered as light frigates. 

INFOGRAPHICS #33: The destroyers and frigates of the European Union in 2018

Written by D-Mitch

British and French destroyers in formation.

The following infographic depicts all The destroyers and frigates of the European Union in 2018, in a single image! Note though that the military forces of European Union are not integrated and thus there is not a single European Navy from the members of the European Union. However, in March 2017, the European Union approved a new military command center for foreign training missions after Britain dropped its opposition (which was the main obstacle), the latest step in EU efforts to integrate its military forces and defense industries.Therefore, the formation of a "EU Navy" is closer than ever. The EU major surface combatant fleet consists of 115 frigates and destroyers of which 29 are anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) warships and the rest 86 are general purpose (GP) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) warships (SSBN)! There are 31 classes in commission (some of them are actually are variants of main classes such as the Karel Doorman or O.H. Perry). The major contributor to the EU naval fleet (till today at least) is the United Kingdom (UK) with 19 major surface combatants. France and Italy have just one less ship in their fleets, while Greece counts 13 ships with Spain and Germany 11 each. UK has six (6) AAW destroyers in commission, Spain five (5) and France and Italy four (4) each. Note that the Danish opt-out from EU defence cooperation and the UK will leave the EU on March 29, 2019. Moreover, countries such as Romania and Bulgaria have warships with limited armament; especially the two Type 22 frigates could be characterized as large offshore patrol vessels as they lack any missile system.

The evolution of Japanese destroyers after WWII

Article written by Jon Harris 
Additional information, photos and graphs by D-Mitch

JMSDF destroyers (DDG and DDH) in formation

Since the end of World War Two, Japan has commissioned as many different destroyer type designs as the United States and the former Soviet Union. This exceptional feat has gone little noticed. The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has produced a steady stream of gradually improving designs, culminating in the powerful, well-balanced fleet of today. Their design bureau didn't produce radical forms such as the Russian KYNDA class cruisers, or Swedish VISBY class corvettes. Rather, this island nation developed a variety of platforms designed to defend the homeland and its vital oceanic trade. The application of existing weapons and sensors, primarily of US origin, provided for robust growth, and limited expenditures on research and development.

Durand de la Penne class destroyers of the Italian Navy

Written by D-Mitch

D560 Luigi Durand de la Penne, lead ship of the class.
Photo: Marina Militare Italiana

Elegant lines and powerful armament. These are the characteristics of the Durand de la Penne class destroyers of Italian Navy (Marina Militare), the last class of non-stealth major surface combatants in service with Italian Navy and some of the most beautiful and well-armed warships ever built. Two ships belong in this class of anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) destroyers, the Luigi Durand de la Penne and the Francesco Mimbelli. The ships were built by Fincantieri and they were commissioned in 1993. Initially there was a plan to built four ships of the class but the second pair was cancelled as Italy joined France in the Horizon project for AAW destroyers. The ships of the class are advanced and quite capable to perform any kind of mission given due to their extensive armament and electronic equipment.

INFOGRAPHICS #4: United States Navy battleships, destroyers and submarines

The following images (updated) are created by Steve Freeman (sfreeman421 for deviantart) and depict all the classes of battleships, destroyers and submarines that were/are in service with the United States Navy. Enjoy this great artwork!

US Navy Battleships. In high resolution here

Horizon class destroyers of the French and Italian Navy

Written by D-Mitch

The four vessels in the Horizon class in formation

The Horizon/Orrizonte class destroyers is a class of four hich-tech stealth Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) ships which were commissioned the period 2008-2009 in French Navy (Marine Nationale) and Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana).  Two ships were built for each navy, under a multi-national collaboration between the two countries, the Horizon SAS. Horizon SAS was a temporary consortium of companies between Italy and France (50% Italy - 50% France) provided by Orrizonte Sistemi Navali (joint venture between Fincantieri and Finmeccanica) and Armaris (joint venture between DCN and Thales). The project originally included also the United Kingdom  however due to differing requirements from the Royal Navy for a heavier ship that can provide air defence to a fleet that operates in hostile waters, the United Kingdom proceeded alone to develop the Type 45 destroyer instead. The main differences in the requirements were in the Vertical Launching System (VLS) and the scanned array radar. Though four units were planned for each navy, only two were built for each one. The French vessels, Forbin and Chevalier Paul, replaced the two AAW vessels of Suffren class while the Italian vessels of the Andrea Doria class, Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio, replaced the two AAW vessels of Audace class. The armament and equipment are almost identical between the vessels in service with France and Italy. The class carries a variety of weapons and electronic equipment and it is capable for any kind of mission. Great emphasis was given on the stealth performance and thus tilted superstructures, composite materials and special coatings contribute to a very small radar signature.