Tag Archives: Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI)

Navy

First FFX Batch III Frigate

According to Naval News, South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched ROKS Chungnam (FFG-828), the first of six Chungnam-class FFX Batch III frigate to the Republic of Korea Navy. This event took place at HHI’s Ulsan shipyard on April 10th, 2023.

ROKS Chungnam (FFG-828)
HHI Launches First Chungnam-Class FFX Batch III Frigate for ROK Navy

Currently, ROK Navy operates six FFX Batch I (Incheon-class) and six FFX Batch II (Daegu-class) frigates, with two more of Batch II to be commissioned. The third batch of FFX, named after the coastal province of Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong) will be jointly produced by HHI and SK Oceanplant (previously known as Samgang M&T Co., Ltd.). A total of six FFX Batch III frigates will be produced and commissioned between 2023 and 2027, as South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) released in a statement last year.

As of now, only the first (ROKS Chungnam) of FFX Batch III will be produced by HHI, as SK Oceanplant seized the contract for the rest of the fleet (2nd through 4th) back in October last year. However, it is not known which shipbuilder would win the contract for the last two ships, FFG-833 and 835 (5th and 6th) respectively. FFG-834 has intentionally been left unused, as number 4 is often associated with misfortune in East Asian culture.

Chungnam-class frigates will feature various technological advancements over its predecessors. One of them is «integrated mast», which is often dubbed locally as «semi-AEGIS» system. This mast is a multitude of advanced technologies such as four-array Active-Electronically Scanned Radar (AESA), advanced InfraRed Search and Track (IRST) and Electro Optical Tracking System (EOTS) which helps ship to better detect incoming threats and protect itself in intensive naval combat scenarios. Notably, Chungnam-class frigates are the first in ROK Navy to be equipped with an indigenous Close-In Weapon System II (CIWS-II) protection system from LIG Nex1.

Introduction of Chungnam-class frigates into active service is a significant milestone for ROK Navy as FFX Batch III will also function as a testbed for new combat systems that are to be equipped on future KDDX, namely including «integrated mast» and CIWS-II which were mentioned earlier.

Other notable differences from its predecessors include the utilization of «box girder» design, which helps to minimize the drag while sailing as well as increasing the survivability of the vessel when hit by enemy fire.

Chungnam-class will be 129 m/423 feet in length, 14.8 m/48.5 feet in width, displace 4,300 tons at full load. It is armed with 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System (KVLS), Mk. 45 5-inch/127-mm main gun, ship-to-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles including Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile System (K-SAAM). Its maximum cruise speed is 30 knots/34.5 mph/55.5 kph, owing to its powerful Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine and combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) propulsion system.

Navy

Eighth Daegu Frigate

According to Naval News, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched the eighth FFX Batch-II (Daegu-class) frigate, the ROKS Chuncheon (FFG-827), on March 22, local time, in its Ulsan shipyard.

ROKS Chuncheon (FFG-827)
Hyundai Heavy Industries Launches Eighth Daegu Class Frigate

«The ROKS Chuncheon’s offensive capabilities against submerged and surface targets has been greatly improved», said the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) director of combatant forces, Jeong Yeong-soon. «The ship’s enhanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities, in particular, will help defend the Northern Limit Line».

«The ROKN has relentlessly prepared for the future since its founding, producing both warships and competent personnel. Our maritime sovereignty will remain unchallenged as we continue to develop state-of-the-art multi-dimensional combat capabilities», said Admiral Kim Jung-soo, ROKN Chief of Naval Operations.

The ROKS Chuncheon (FFG-827) will be brought into service by late 2023, replacing the 1,500-ton and 1,000-ton corvettes operated by the ROKN.

The first ship of the class, ROKS Daegu (FFG-818), built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), was launched in June 2016 and commissioned in March 2018. ROKS Gyeongnam (FFG-819), the second ship of the class also built by DSME, was launched in June 2019 and commissioned in January 2021. The third and fourth ships, ROKS Seoul (FFG-821) and ROKS Donghae (FFG-822), were built by HHI and launched in November 2019 and April 2020 respectively. DSME launched the fifth and sixth ships of the class in May and September last year while HHI launched the seventh one last November.

Navy

The Great-class

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced on Thursday that it has signed with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) a KRW 670 billion contract for product engineering and construction for the first vessel of the Gwanggaeto the Great-class III batch-II.

Gwanggaeto
HHI Wins Contract for New Aegis Destroyer

The vessel to be built by HHI under this contract is the first of the three new Aegis destroyers that will be added to the South Korean Navy’s fleet, to be constructed in HHI’s Ulsan-based yard scheduled for delivery by 2024.

With full displacement of 8,100 tons, the new Aegis destroyer has an overall length of 170 meters/558 feet and can sail at a maximum speed of 30 knots/34.5 mph (approximately 55 km/h).

Featuring a newly added Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability, the destroyer can upgrade detecting and tracking capability that has more than doubled as well as an improved submarine-detection range that has more than tripled compared to those of the nation’s first Aegis destroyers, therefore, expected to enhance the naval forces’ operational capabilities. It will also boast a highly formidable combat system equipped with various weapons, including a five-inch gun, guided missiles and torpedoes.

HHI has a successful track record of working on the basic design of and constructing the South Korean Navy’s first Aegis destroyer named Sejong the Great, which was commissioned in 2008. Having also built the nation’s third Aegis destroyer named Seoae Yu Seong-ryong, HHI, with the recently won contract, is now set to be heralded as the builder of three out of the four Aegis destroyers in the nation. To date, it remains the only South Korean shipyard capable of both designing and building Aegis system-equipped vessels on its own.

«This new contract we won is yet another testimony to how HHI is recognized as a rich repository of superior technologies», commented Sang Hoon Nam, Executive Vice President & COO of HHI’s Naval and Special Ship Business Unit. «We aim to help the naval forces secure key weapons systems and its operations go ‘smart’ with enhanced capabilities, by successfully completing this project».