South Korean Navy commissions 2nd Daegu-class frigate “ROKS Gyeongnam”

The Republic of Korea Navy formally commissioned its second Daegu-class frigate ROKS Gyeongnam (FFG-819) on 4th January, ROK Armed Forces announced via Facebook.

ROKS Gyenognam was launched on June 21, 2019 by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

Daegu-class frigate is a product of FFX Batch-II program, which outlines construction of eight 2,800 tons (empty) frigate to replace aging corvettes and frigates used for coastal operation. It is a vastly improved version of the smaller Incheon-class frigate (FFX Batch-I).

The lead ship of her class was launched in 2016 and commissioned in 2018. As of 2021, total of 4 out of 8 frigates have been launched.

Larger and more capable FFX Batch-III and IV frigate programs are also underway well into the 2020s and 30s.

The Batch-II frigates are an improved version of the Incheon-class. FFX Batch II frigates’ displacement is appx 2,800 tons (3,593 tons full load). The frigate is 122 meters long, 14 meters wide and 34 meters high.

They are outfitted 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. They also carry 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 systems consists in a Mk 45 mod. 4 naval gun system (main gun) and a Phalanx Block 1B CIWS.

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