Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has delivered the third Incheon-class guided-missile frigate RoKS Jeonbuk to the South Korean Navy.
Delivered as part of the future frigate experimental programme, the vessel will be commissioned in May following a four-month integration process, Yonhap reported.
Aimed at replacing the RoKN’s ageing Ulsan-class frigates and Dong Hae and Po Hang-class corvettes, the Incheon frigates feature Raytheon’s Mk49 RIM-116 rolling airframe missile surface-to-air weapon, a Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon system (CIWS) and hull-mounted sonar.
They also provide enhanced anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.
The 114m-long vessel has a displacement capacity of 3,200t at full load and can cruise at a maximum speed of 30k. RoKS Jeonbuk can also accommodate a crew of 140.
HHI also constructed Incheon (811) and Gyeonggi (812), which were commissioned in January 2013 and November 2014, respectively.
According to IHS Jane’s Fighting Ships, an additional nine vessels are expected to be commissioned by 2020. Furthermore, STX Offshore & Shipbuilding was awarded a contract to build ships four to six.
