Korean shipbuilder SK Oceanplant has launched the future Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate Gyeongbuk.
The future ROKS Gyeongbuk is the second of the Batch-III frigates to be completed; the first, ROKS Chungnam, was built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered to the ROKN in December last year.
The ROKN is set to acquire a total of six new Batch-III vessels; the 3,600-ton, 129m-long frigates feature a mast incorporating a four-sided, 360-degree phased array radar and a hybrid propulsion system giving them a maximum speed of about 30 knots.
The Gyeongbuk was launched in a ceremony at SK Oceanplant’s shipyard in Goseong-gun on South Korea’s east coast last Friday (June 20) that was attended by dignitaries from the ROKN, the Ministry of National Defence (MoND) , and the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
The ship will now begin sea trials and is expected to be delivered to the ROKN next year.
- You can read more details on the SK Oceanplant website
