Eighth FFX-II – First Two of Planned Six FFX-III Already Under Contract

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the eighth and final Daegu (FFX-II)-class frigate on order for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).

A launch ceremony for Chuncheon was held on 22 March at HHI’s shipyard in Ulsan. The 122.1m warship, which can attain a maximum speed of 30kts, is expected to be handed over to the navy before the end of 2023, following a series of trials, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Chuncheon is one of four frigates of the class constructed by HHI, with the other four built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). Of the eight vessels, the first four are already in service.

The 2,800t Daegu-class is a larger variant of South Korea’s six Incheon (FFX-I)-class frigates, the first of which entered service in 2013. Built to replace the RoKN’s Ulsan-class frigates and Pohang-class corvettes, the Daegu-class is powered by a single Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine and two Leonardo DRS permanent magnet motors, driven by MTU 12 V 4000 diesel-generator sets in a CODLOG configuration. The hybrid propulsion system reduces underwater radiated noise. The ships also feature hull-mounted and towed array sonar systems, to enhance their ASW capabilities.

The weapons fit features a 20mm Phalanx close-in weapon system, a Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun, and a 16-cell Korean vertical launching system (K-VLS) designed to launch K-SAAMs (Korean Surface to Air Anti Missiles), Hong Sang Eo (Red Shark) anti-submarine missiles, and Haeryong (SSM-701K Sea Dragon) anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.

Compared to the Incheon-class, Chuncheon features “significantly improved combat capabilities, including its ability to detect and attack surface and submarine targets, and will play a key role in protecting the country’s north-eastern maritime border using its enhanced anti-submarine capabilities,” according to an RoKN official quoted by DAPA.

Meanwhile, South Korea has already begun work on more advanced, 3,500t FFX-III frigates. Contracts to build the first two of a planned fleet of six vessels have already been awarded to local shipyards.