On June 20, the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) held the launching ceremony of a new FFX Batch-III anti-submarine frigate, named ROKS Gyeongbuk (FFG-829), at the SK Oceanplant shipyard. This is the second unit within an acquisition program aimed at strengthening South Korea’s anti-submarine and anti-air capabilities with a new class of warships. Before this milestone, ROKS Chungnam (FFG-828), the first unit of the class, was launched in April 2023 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard and delivered to the South Korean Navy in mid-December 2024.
ROKS Gyeongbuk (FFG-829) is the second of six planned FFX Batch-III anti-submarine frigates. The program seeks to replace aging combat and patrol frigates and corvettes (PCCs) that are nearing retirement. Construction of the Gyeongbuk began in 2021, followed by keel laying in 2023 and hull assembly in 2024, before being launched in the June 20 ceremony.
According to local sources, the ship will undergo additional trials over the coming months. It is expected to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy in June of next year for operational deployment. “The newly launched ROKS Gyeongbuk is a warship that embodies the Republic of Korea’s outstanding shipbuilding and defense technology. Equipped with state-of-the-art combat systems, precision sensors, and powerful armament—all developed domestically—it will fully carry out its mission to protect our national interests and the lives of our people at sea. I hope that Gyeongbuk will confidently fulfill its role as a core asset of our regional fleet, safeguarding the waters of the Republic of Korea,” stated Admiral Yong-mo Yang, Chief of Naval Operations.
Finally, these new frigates displace 3,600 tons, and measure 129 meters in length and 14.8 meters in beam. They are equipped with a 127 mm naval gun, anti-ship, land-attack, and anti-air missiles, as well as long-range anti-submarine torpedoes. The ships also feature a hybrid propulsion system, inherited from the Batch-II (Daegu-class) frigates, which helps minimize underwater radiated noise.
In addition, the Batch-III class frigates include an integrated mast that houses advanced detection technologies, such as a new domestically developed AESA radar, an advanced infrared search and track system (IRST), and an electro-optical tracking system (EOTS), all of which aid the ship and crew in threat detection and identification.
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