South Korea Launches 3,600 Ton Missile Frigate, the Jeonnam

The South Korean Navy launched the 3,600-ton missile frigate Jeonnam at the SK Ocean Plant in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, yesterday.

The vessel is the Navy’s third frigate of this class, following the Chungnam and Gyeongbuk.

The Jeonnam is 129m long, 14.8m wide and 38.9m high. According to the Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the ship is equipped with a 5-inch naval gun, a Korea-made vertical launch system, ship-to-ship guided missiles, ship-to-shore missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes.

The frigate features a domestically developed integrated sensor mast and a four-sided fixed multi-function phased array radar similar to the radar used on the American-made Aegis system. The radar enables simultaneous detection and tracking of anti-aircraft and anti-ship targets in all directions.

A hybrid propulsion system has been applied to reduce underwater radiated noise. The hull-mounted sonar is designed to support anti-submarine operations.

After testing and evaluation, the Jeonnam is scheduled to be delivered to the South Korean Navy in December next year for operational deployment.