South Korea receives training ship and upgrades existing platforms
Activity continues apace in South Korea’s navy as new vessels are launched and delivered, and older ones upgraded.
The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) received its first dedicated training ship, the future ROKS Hansando, on 20 October. The vessel is expected to formally enter service early next year, stationed at Jinhae Naval Base.
A photo released by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) showed the 4,500t vessel with stealth aspects while it was on sea trials. Bearing the pennant number ‘ATH 81’, Hansando measures 142m long.
RAdm Jeong Sam, head of DAPA’s combat ship acquisition department, noted: ‘This is the first time that the Republic of Korea Navy has secured a ship only for crew training. The
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