This photo, provided by the Navy, shows its new 2,800-ton frigate Pohang during a launching ceremony at its manufacturer Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.’s Okpo shipyard on the southern island of Geoje on Sept. 8, 2021.
SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The Navy held a launching ceremony Wednesday for a new 2,800-ton frigate with improved anti-submarine capabilities.
The new warship Pohang is the sixth of the country’s FFX Batch II frigates to replace the Navy’s 1,500-ton frigates and 1,000-ton patrol combat corvettes, according to the military.
The ceremony was held at its manufacturer Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.’s Okpo shipyard on the southern island of Geoje, with the attendance of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Won In-choul.
With some 120 crew members aboard, the 122-meter frigate will carry various weapons, including ship-to-ship and ship-to-surface missiles as well as a helicopter for naval operations.
The new frigate also has improved capability to detect and attack submarines with a towed array sonar system and a long-range anti-submarine torpedo, according to the military.
“To protect our maritime sovereignty and national interest, we need a strong naval power among other things,” Won said in a congratulatory message.
The new warship will be delivered to the Navy in early 2023 after a trial period.
(Yonhap)
