The Incheon-class frigates (Hangul: 인천급 호위함, Hanja: 仁川級護衛艦), also known as the Future Frigate eXperimental or FFX during development, are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship was launched on 29 April 2011. The Incheon-class frigates will replace the aging fleet of Pohang-classcorvettes and Ulsan-class frigates, and take over multi-role operations such as coast patrol, anti-submarine warfare and transport support. Later batches are planned to be specialized on anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. An improved version is being introduced as the Daegu-class frigate; this was previously known as Batch II of the Incheon class.
In the early 1990s, the Korean government plan for the construction of next generation coastal ships named "Frigate 2000" was scrapped due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. But the decommissioning of the Gearing-classdestroyers and the aging fleet of Ulsan-classfrigates, the plan was revived as the Future Frigate eXperimental, also known as FFX in the early 2000s.
The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) initially wanted twenty-four 3,000 ton frigates to replace the Ulsan-, Pohang- and Donghae-class coastal fleet of 37 ships. It was later decided that six 2,700 ton ships will be constructed for the first batch. In 2008, the plan was further downgraded to 2,300 tons when president Lee Myung-bak took office, with the number of ships for the first batch down to six. Eight ships are planned for the second batch of FFX with the final goal of 20–22 frigates.[2]
In 2010 the construction of the first FFX frigate was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industry and in April 2011 the first of its class, ROKS Incheon was launched. The ship is named after the western port city of Incheon, representing the ROKN's initiative to defend the western islands due to the constant clashes with the North Korean navy in this area.
Anti-ship capability is provided by SSM-700K Haeseong (Sea Star) long-range anti-ship missiles, each with performance similar to the American Harpoon. Land-attack capability is provided by the recently developed Tactical Ship to Land attack missile, which is derived from the SSM-700K Haeseong; initially, the land attack missiles were planned to start arming batch 2 Incheon-class ships, but feasibility studies showed they could be retrofitted to batch 1 ships, which began in September 2016, enhancing their flexibility and deterrence capabilities with 150–200 km (93–124 mi)-range tactical missiles.[5]
A variant of the Incheon class was offered by Hyundai Heavy Industries to the Philippines' Department of National Defense for their requirement of two new frigates.[9] On 24 October 2016, the contract to supply two brand new general purpose stealth frigates was signed between the Department of National Defense, represented by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, and Hyundai Heavy Industries, represented by its Senior Vice President Mr. Ki Sun Chung, under the presence of officials from the DND, AFP, PN, HHI, and the South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines.[10]
In November 2012, it was reported that Israel was mulling a deal to purchase four Incheon-class frigates from South Korea, which would be built jointly by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Israel Shipyards.[citation needed]
ReferencesEdit
^ abTomohiko Tada (August 2013). "13. Incheon class FF / South Korea". Ships of the World (782): 102–103.
^"Rolls-Royce to supply MT30 Gas Turbines to next three Korean Daegu-class frigates". www.rolls-royce.com.
^"Brand-new - naval ships built in 2013". Naval-technology.com. 2014-08-26.
^"해군 차기호위함 '인천함', 29일 울산서 진수". 세계일보. Segye Ilbo. 2011-04-29.
^S. Korean Navy to arm frigates with tactical ship-to-land missiles - Koreatimes.co.kr, 21 August 2016
^"Republic of Korea Navy commissions First of Class "Incheon" FFX I Frigate". Navy Recognition. 2013-01-18.
^"Hyundai Heavy Industries launched the 3rd Incheon class frigate ROKS Jeonbuk". November 14, 2013.
^"Navy launches new frigate Gwangju, 6th in next-generation fleet project". 11 August 2015.
^. Philippine News Agency. 2013-03-02. Archived from the original on 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
^(PDF) (Press release). The Philippines Department of National Defense. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-15.
October 27, 2023
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The Incheon class frigates Hangul 인천급 호위함 Hanja 仁川級護衛艦 also known as the Future Frigate eXperimental or FFX during development are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy The lead ship was launched on 29 April 2011 The Incheon class frigates will replace the aging fleet of Pohang class corvettes and Ulsan class frigates and take over multi role operations such as coast patrol anti submarine warfare and transport support Later batches are planned to be specialized on anti air and anti submarine warfare An improved version is being introduced as the Daegu class frigate this was previously known as Batch II of the Incheon class Incheon class frigateClass overviewNameIncheon classBuildersHyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore amp ShipbuildingOperators Republic of Korea NavyPreceded byUlsan class Pohang class corvetteSucceeded byDaegu classSubclassesJose Rizal classIn commission2012 presentPlanned6Completed6Active6General characteristicsTypeGuided missile frigateDisplacement2 500 t 2 500 long tons empty 3 300 t 3 200 long tons full load 1 Length114 m 374 ft 0 in Beam14 m 45 ft 11 in Draft4 m 13 ft 1 in PropulsionCODOG 2 MTU 12V 1163 TB83 diesel engine 2 GE LM2500 gas turbine 1 Speed30 knots 56 km h 35 mph max 18 knots 33 km h 21 mph cruising Range4 500 nautical miles 8 300 km 5 200 mi Complement140Sensors and processing systemsSPS 550K air search 3D radar SPG 540K fire control radar SQS 240K hull mounted sonar SAQ 540K EOTS Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management SystemElectronic warfare amp decoysLIG Nex1 SLQ 200 V K Sonata electronic warfare suite SLQ 261K torpedo acoustic counter measures KDAGAIE Mk 2 decoy launchersArmament1 5 inch 127 mm L62 caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun 1 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 triple torpedo tubes for K745 Blue Shark torpedo 1 RAM Block 1 CIWS 8 SSM 700K Haeseong Anti ship Missile in quad configuration 8 Haeryong Tactical Land Attack Missile in quad configurationAircraft carriedSuper Lynx or AW159 helicopterAviation facilitiesFlight deck and enclosed hangar for one medium lift helicopter Contents 1 Development 2 Armament 3 Ships in the class 4 Export market 5 ReferencesDevelopment EditSee also Daegu class frigate In the early 1990s the Korean government plan for the construction of next generation coastal ships named Frigate 2000 was scrapped due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis But the decommissioning of the Gearing class destroyers and the aging fleet of Ulsan class frigates the plan was revived as the Future Frigate eXperimental also known as FFX in the early 2000s The Republic of Korea Navy ROKN initially wanted twenty four 3 000 ton frigates to replace the Ulsan Pohang and Donghae class coastal fleet of 37 ships It was later decided that six 2 700 ton ships will be constructed for the first batch In 2008 the plan was further downgraded to 2 300 tons when president Lee Myung bak took office with the number of ships for the first batch down to six Eight ships are planned for the second batch of FFX with the final goal of 20 22 frigates 2 In 2010 the construction of the first FFX frigate was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industry and in April 2011 the first of its class ROKS Incheon was launched The ship is named after the western port city of Incheon representing the ROKN s initiative to defend the western islands due to the constant clashes with the North Korean navy in this area Armament EditThe Incheon class frigate s main gun is the 127 mm L62 Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun 3 This was chosen over a smaller 76 mm for naval barrage support in amphibious landings and superiority in ship to ship firing 4 Point defense armaments include a single 20 mm Phalanx CIWS and a RIM 116 Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1 21 round launcher The anti submarine warfare armaments consists of K745 LW Cheong Sahng uh Blue Shark torpedoes Anti ship capability is provided by SSM 700K Haeseong Sea Star long range anti ship missiles each with performance similar to the American Harpoon Land attack capability is provided by the recently developed Tactical Ship to Land attack missile which is derived from the SSM 700K Haeseong initially the land attack missiles were planned to start arming batch 2 Incheon class ships but feasibility studies showed they could be retrofitted to batch 1 ships which began in September 2016 enhancing their flexibility and deterrence capabilities with 150 200 km 93 124 mi range tactical missiles 5 Ships in the class EditName Pennant number Builder Launched Commissioned StatusROKS Incheon FFG 811 Hyundai Heavy Industries 29 April 2011 17 January 2013 6 ActiveROKS Gyeonggi FFG 812 Hyundai Heavy Industries 18 July 2013 4 November 2014 ActiveROKS Jeonbuk FFG 813 Hyundai Heavy Industries 13 November 2013 7 5 January 2015 ActiveROKS Gangwon FFG 815 STX Offshore amp Shipbuilding 12 August 2014 November 2015 ActiveROKS Chungbuk FFG 816 STX Offshore amp Shipbuilding 23 October 2014 26 January 2016 ActiveROKS Gwangju FFG 817 STX Offshore amp Shipbuilding 11 August 2015 8 9 November 2016 ActiveExport market EditA variant of the Incheon class was offered by Hyundai Heavy Industries to the Philippines Department of National Defense for their requirement of two new frigates 9 On 24 October 2016 the contract to supply two brand new general purpose stealth frigates was signed between the Department of National Defense represented by Defense Sec Delfin Lorenzana and Hyundai Heavy Industries represented by its Senior Vice President Mr Ki Sun Chung under the presence of officials from the DND AFP PN HHI and the South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines 10 In November 2012 it was reported that Israel was mulling a deal to purchase four Incheon class frigates from South Korea which would be built jointly by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Israel Shipyards citation needed References Edit a b Tomohiko Tada August 2013 13 Incheon class FF South Korea Ships of the World 782 102 103 Rolls Royce to supply MT30 Gas Turbines to next three Korean Daegu class frigates www rolls royce com Brand new naval ships built in 2013 Naval technology com 2014 08 26 해군 차기호위함 인천함 29일 울산서 진수 세계일보 Segye Ilbo 2011 04 29 S Korean Navy to arm frigates with tactical ship to land missiles Koreatimes co kr 21 August 2016 Republic of Korea Navy commissions First of Class Incheon FFX I Frigate Navy Recognition 2013 01 18 Hyundai Heavy Industries launched the 3rd Incheon class frigate ROKS Jeonbuk November 14 2013 Navy launches new frigate Gwangju 6th in next generation fleet project 11 August 2015 South Korean defense manufacturer signifies interest to provide DND s frigate requirements Philippine News Agency 2013 03 02 Archived from the original on 2010 05 04 Retrieved 2013 03 04 Philippine Navy s first ever state of the art frigate launched in South Korea PDF Press release The Philippines Department of National Defense 24 May 2019 Archived from the original PDF on 2019 07 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Incheon class frigate amp oldid 1144314447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
