South Korea Launches Guided Missile Frigate

South Korean Navy has launched a new guided missile frigate, Gwangju Tuesday.

The navy is replacing older vessels, majorly frigates and patrol combat corvettes, with next-generation warships. The new frigate is the sixth addition to the fleet as part of the navy’s plans to build 20 next-gen vessels by 2020, the Navy was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency in a statement.

The new vessels will be tasked with patrolling to defend South Korean sea territory and to counter North’s aggression, the statement said.

Gwangju is a 2,300 ton frigate that can accommodate 120 crewmen and can sail at a maximum speed of 30 knots.

The vessel is equipped with three-dimension scanning radar, a sonar torpedo detecting system as well as anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles to be able to engage in antiaircraft, antisubmarine and anti-ship operations.

The frigate will undergo test navigation and examinations before being handed over to the Navy for deployment by the end of 2016.