South Korea approves more frigates plus SM-3 missiles
ROKS Chungnam, the first FFX Batch III frigate of the ROKN at its launch on 10 April 2023. (Photo: ROKN)
South Korea’s six FFX Batch IV frigates are expected to be delivered by 2032 and will full retirement of remaining Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates, and possibly Gwanggaeto-class destroyers.
Several important naval programmes were approved by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee (DAPPC) on 26 April, including close-in weapon systems, follow-on frigates and shipborne ballistic-missile interceptors.
The committee gave assent to construction of new FFX Batch IV frigates for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). This represents the final phase of the FFX shipbuilding effort that will eventually see 26 frigates in service.
The final batch is based on the preceding FFX Batch III Chungnam-class design, but with upgrades such as the CIWS-II, a Hanwha Systems engineering control system and improved integration of armaments (including the SSM-700K
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