South Korea Launches New 3,600-Ton Homegrown Frigate with Advanced Anti-Air, Anti-Submarine Capabilities
ROKS Jeju, named after southern resort island, is fourth vessel in Ulsan-class Batch-III program aimed at replacing aging fleet
En resumen
- South Korea launched a new 3,600-ton homegrown frigate named ROKS Jeju at a shipyard in Goseong County.
- The 129-meter vessel is the fourth in the Ulsan-class Batch-III program and features advanced capabilities including a 5-inch gun, vertical launch system, anti-ship missile interceptors, and a homegrown multifunctional phased array radar.
- The frigate will be delivered to the Navy in June 2027 after a trial period.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
South Korea has been actively modernizing its naval forces through indigenous defense programs. The Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate program aims to replace aging vessels with more capable ships featuring advanced radar and weapons systems.
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea held a launch ceremony Wednesday for a new homegrown 3,600-ton frigate with enhanced anti-air and anti-submarine capabilities, the Navy and the state arms procurement agency said.
The ceremony for the ROKS Jeju, named after the country's southern resort island, took place at a shipyard run by SK Oceanplant Co., in Goseong County, about 350 kilometers south of Seoul, the Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a joint release.
The 129-meter-long vessel is the fourth ship built as part of South Korea's Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate acquisition program aimed at replacing aging frigates and patrol combat corvettes.
"Now is a critical moment more than ever to strengthen our resolve for a self-reliant national defense and practical readiness posture," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung said at the ceremony.
Jin noted the military has been stepping up efforts to upgrade unmanned surface vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles, while seeking to boost artificial intelligence-based combat capabilities.
The new frigate is equipped with a 5-inch gun, a vertical launch system, anti-ship missile interceptors, ship-to-ship guided missiles, tactical ship-to-ground guided missiles and long-range anti-submarine torpedoes. It is also fitted with a homegrown "multifunctional phased array radar" system capable of detecting, tracking multiple targets and engaging them at the same time.
The vessel is expected to serve as a key combat ship operating in regional waters with its advanced anti-air and anti-submarine capabilities, the Navy and DAPA said.
Following a trial period, the frigate will be delivered to the Navy in June 2027, before going into service.
Preguntas abiertas
- What is the total cost of the program?
- How many additional frigates are planned?
- What are the specific capabilities of the phased array radar?
