South Korea receives sixth Daegu-class FFX-II frigate

 

The Daegu-class frigate ROKS Pohang (FFG-825). Photo c/o Navy Recognition.

South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has delivered the sixth Daegu-class guided missile frigate to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) on 28 February 2023.

The ship, which was named the ROKS Pohang (FFG-825), was delivered to the ROKN at the DSME's Okpo Shipyard, as confirmed by the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The ship was launched by DSME on September 2021, and will be replacing the older Ulsan-class frigates that are in the process of retirement from ROKN service.

The ship was said to be have improved detection and attack capabilities against surface and submarine targets, with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities.

A total of 8 ships are being constructed under the ROKN's FFX-II program, which are built by DSME and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). 

The Daegu-class were built under the ROKN's FFX Batch II Program, are are improved versions of the Incheon-class frigates built under the FFX Batch I Program.

The frigates displaces at 3,650 tons full load, are 122 meters long and 14 meters wide, and are powered by four MTU 12V 4000 M53B diesel engines and a Rolls Royce MT30 gas turbine in Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODLAG) configuration.

This hybrid propulsion system allows a maximum speed of 30 knots, and reduces underwater radiated noise which helps in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.

The frigates are also armed with a 127mm Mk. 45 Mod 4 naval gun, a 20mm Phalanx Block 1B close in weapon system, eight SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missiles and two triple torpedo tubes, and a 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS) capable of firing the Korean Surface to Air Anti-Missile (K-SAAM) air defense missile, the Hong Sang Eo anti-submarine rocket, and the SSM-701K Haeryong land attack cruise missiles.

[1] Naval News
[2] Navy Recognition