Inchon class frigate
Encyclopedia
The Incheon class frigates (Hangul: 인천급 호위함), also known as 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 Inchon 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.
destroyers and the aging fleet of Ulsan class
friagtes, the plan was revived as the Future Fgrigate eXperimental, also known as FFX in the early 2000s.
The Republic of Korea Navy initially wanted 24 3000 ton frigates to replace the Ulsan, Pohang and Donghae class coastal fleet of 37 ships. It was later decided that six 2700 ton ships will be constructed for the first batch. In 2008, the plan was further downgraded to 2300 tons when president Lee Myung Bak took office, with the number of ships for the first batch down to three. 3~9 ships are planned for the second batch of FFX with the final goal of 15 frigates.
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 'Inchon' was launched. The ship is named after the western port city of Inchon, representing the Republic of Korea Navy's initiative to defend the western islands due to the constant clashes with the North Korean navy in this area.
and a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1 21-round
launcher. Anti-Submarine Warfare armaments consists of K745 LW Cheong Sahng-uh (Blue Shark) torpedoes. Anti-ship capability is provided by 16 SSM-700K Hae Sung (Sea Star) long-range anti-ship missile, each with performance similar to the U.S. Harpoon. Land-attack capability is provided by the recently-developed Hyunmoo III
C (Guardian of the Northern Sky) cruise missile, which is similar to the U.S. Tomahawk.
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
. The lead ship was launched on 29 April 2011. The Inchon class frigates will replace the aging fleet of Pohang class
Pohang class corvette
The Pohang class corvette is a class of general purpose vessels operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. They have served in a coastal defense role during the late Cold War and post Cold War period....
corvettes and Ulsan class
Ulsan class frigate
The Ulsan class frigate is a class of multi-purpose Guided Missile Frigates built by South Korea. Presently in use with Republic of Korea Navy and Bangladesh Navy.- Design :...
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.
Development
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 classGearing class destroyer
The Gearing class was a group of 98 destroyers built for the US Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the immediately preceding Allen M. Sumner class...
destroyers and the aging fleet of Ulsan class
Ulsan class frigate
The Ulsan class frigate is a class of multi-purpose Guided Missile Frigates built by South Korea. Presently in use with Republic of Korea Navy and Bangladesh Navy.- Design :...
friagtes, the plan was revived as the Future Fgrigate eXperimental, also known as FFX in the early 2000s.
The Republic of Korea Navy initially wanted 24 3000 ton frigates to replace the Ulsan, Pohang and Donghae class coastal fleet of 37 ships. It was later decided that six 2700 ton ships will be constructed for the first batch. In 2008, the plan was further downgraded to 2300 tons when president Lee Myung Bak took office, with the number of ships for the first batch down to three. 3~9 ships are planned for the second batch of FFX with the final goal of 15 frigates.
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 'Inchon' was launched. The ship is named after the western port city of Inchon, representing the Republic of Korea Navy's initiative to defend the western islands due to the constant clashes with the North Korean navy in this area.
Armaments
Incheon class frigates' main gun is the 127mm/L62 Mk. 45 Mod 4 naval gun. This was chosen over a smaller 76mm for naval barrage support in amphibious landings and superiority in ship to ship firing. Point-defense armaments include a single 20 mm Phalanx CIWSPhalanx CIWS
The Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
and a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1 21-round
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use by the American, German, South Korean, Greek, Turkish, Saudi and Egyptian navies. It was intended originally and used primarily as a point-defense weapon against anti-ship cruise missiles...
launcher. Anti-Submarine Warfare armaments consists of K745 LW Cheong Sahng-uh (Blue Shark) torpedoes. Anti-ship capability is provided by 16 SSM-700K Hae Sung (Sea Star) long-range anti-ship missile, each with performance similar to the U.S. Harpoon. Land-attack capability is provided by the recently-developed Hyunmoo III
Hyunmoo III
Hyunmoo-3 is a new cruise missile that is to be fielded with the military of Republic of Korea. It is designed by Agency for Defense Development...
C (Guardian of the Northern Sky) cruise missile, which is similar to the U.S. Tomahawk.
Ships in the class
| Name | Number | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
| Inchon (인천) | FFG-811 | Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. is the world's largest shipbuilding company, headquartered in Ulsan, South Korea. The company is a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group... |
29 April 2011 | 2013 | Launched | |