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Jul 30, 2023

SK Oceanplant Cuts Steel for 2nd FFX Batch

Eunhyuk Cha 06 Aug 2023 SK Oceanplant (formerly known as Samkang M&T ) won the contracts for the second, third, and fourth ships of the FFX Batch-III. The contract for the second ship was awarded to

Eunhyuk Cha 06 Aug 2023

SK Oceanplant (formerly known as Samkang M&T) won the contracts for the second, third, and fourth ships of the FFX Batch-III. The contract for the second ship was awarded to SK Oceanplant in December 2021, and the company underwent a nineteen-month production planning and design process. In preparation for the successful construction of the FFX Batch-III ships, SK Oceanplant implemented various measures such as process improvement to shorten construction timelines, systematic management of sea trials, minimizing errors in design and production, and establishing a flexible collaborative system with equipment suppliers to ensure smooth operations.

SK Oceanplant also announced its detailed plan to hold the keel laying ceremony for this vessel on April 1st, 2024, with the launch scheduled for the end of November of the same year. Following the launch, from May 2025 to June 2026, the vessel will undergo a sea trial campaign before finally being delivered to the RoK Navy. Additionally, following the delivery of the second ship, the third and fourth ships are also scheduled to be delivered with a six-month interval. The third ship is set to be delivered on December 31, 2026, and the fourth ship will be handed over on June 30, 2027.

“Building excellent quality vessels based on our technological expertise and know-how, as well as delivering them on time, will help us build trust in the market. The construction of the FFX Batch-III’s second ship is a crucial project in the national defense industry, and through the successful construction of these ships, we will do our best to contribute to the enhancement of the Republic of Korea Navy’s capabilities.”

The FFX Batch-III frigate, also known as the Ulsan-class, has a displacement of 4,300 tons at full load, a length of 129 meters, and a width of 14.8 meters. It is equipped with various advanced weaponry, including a 5-inch main gun, CIWS-II, a 16-cell KVLS (K-SAAM) system, eight angled launchers for C-Star and Tactical Surface Launch Missile (TSLM, also known as Sea Dragon), as well as 324mm torpedo launchers for the Blue Shark torpedo. For improved detection capabilities, the FFX Batch-III is equipped with an Integrated MAST that utilizes an S-band AESA radar to detect enemy aircraft and missiles.

The FFX Batch-III uses a hybrid propulsion system that incorporates a medium-low-speed electric propulsion engine and a high-speed gas turbine propulsion engine, which is similarly seen in the latest ROK Navy vessels such as Jeongjo the Great of the KDX-III Batch-II. When operating at low speeds, the electric propulsion system allows the vessel to reduce its noise level, enabling it to evade detection from enemy submarines. Conversely, when high-speed navigation is required, the gas turbine engine empowers the vessel to achieve rapid movement and enhance its operational capabilities.