S.Korea Launches New FFX Batch-II Anti-Submarine Frigate

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched a new 2,800-ton frigate with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities.

Launching ceremony for the Chuncheon took place at the shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. in Ulsan, some 410 km southeast of Seoul, according to the state arms procurement agency.

The 122m-long frigate is equipped with a 20mm Phalanx close-in weapons system and underwater missiles, as well as hull mounted and towed array sonar systems.

It is the eighth and last warship built as part of Seoul's frigate acquisition program, code-named FFX Batch-II. The program is designed to replace the country's aging fleet of 1,500-ton frigates and 1,000-ton corvettes.

Vessels of this class will be able to accommodate some 120 crew members onboard and can reach speeds at 30 knots. It will carry various weapons, including ship-to-ship and ship-to-surface missiles as well as a helicopter for naval operations.

Powered by four MTU 12V 4000 M53B diesel engine and one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines in a Combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) arrangement, the frigate features a hybrid propulsion system to reduce underwater radiated noise.

The ship is fitted with a 16-cell Korean vertical launching system (K-VLS) to deploy K-SAAM (Korean Surface to Air Anti Missile), Hong Sang Eo (Red Shark) anti-submarine missile, and Haeryong (SSM-701K Sea Dragon) tactical land attack cruise missiles. An FFX Batch II ship is also fitted with torpedo launchers for anti-submarine warfare and eight SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missiles. All these missile systems are designed and produced by local company LIG Nex1. The gun system consists in a Mk 45 MOD. 4 naval gun system (main gun) and a Phalanx Block 1B CIWS.

According to the military, the new frigate also has improved capability to detect and attack submarines with a towed array sonar system and a long-range anti-submarine torpedo.

The SQR-250K TASS, low frequency passive sonar system is used for detecting, identifying and tracking enemy submarines. Its hybrid propulsion system reduces underwater radiation noise, which greatly enhances the anti-submarine ability of the vessel.