The Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said on the 20th that they held a launching ceremony for the latest escort vessel, the Gyeongbuk (FFG-829), at SK oceanplant located in Gyeongnam's Goseong.
The Gyeongbuk is the second ship of the Ulsan-class Batch-III, replacing the older escort vessels (FF·Frigate) and patrol vessels (PCC·Patrol Combat Corvette) operated by the Navy. It measures 129 meters in length, 14.8 meters in width, and 38.9 meters in height, and is equipped with a 5-inch gun, a Korean vertical launching system, anti-ship missile defense systems, ship-to-ship missiles, tactical surface-to-surface missiles, and long-range anti-submarine torpedoes. Its displacement is classified at 3,600 tons.
The Gyeongbuk is equipped with all domestically produced systems, including a combat system that can be considered the brain of the vessel, as well as key detection equipment and armaments. In particular, it features a multifunctional phased array radar developed with domestic technology. This four-sided fixed multifunctional phased array radar enables detection and tracking of airborne and naval targets in all directions, as well as simultaneous responses to multiple anti-aircraft targets, similar to the EGIS radar.
About 140 people, including Navy Chief of Staff Yang Yong-mo, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Chief of the Ground Force Business Division Bang Geuk-cheol, and SK oceanplant CEO Lee Seung-cheol, attended the launching ceremony, along with representatives from the Navy, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the shipbuilding company.
In his speech, Chief Yang emphasized, "The newly launched Gyeongbuk is a combat vessel that integrates Korea's outstanding shipbuilding technology and defense science and technology, equipped with cutting-edge combat systems and precise detection equipment we made ourselves, and powerful armaments that will carry out the mission of protecting national interests and the lives of our citizens at sea perfectly."
The Gyeongbuk will be delivered to the Navy in June 2026 after undergoing a test evaluation period, and will then go through the process of becoming operationally deployed.