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Defense
Korea launches ROKS Jeju, 4th vessel in new Ulsan-class frigate series
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By
Jhoo Dong-chan
Published
Apr 29, 2026 12:25 pm
KST
Navy frigate ROKS Jeju (FFG-832) / Courtesy of Republic of Korea Navy
The Korean Navy and the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched the ROKS Jeju, Wednesday, the fourth in a series of advanced frigates designed to bolster the country’s coastal defenses.
The vessel, an Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate, was christened at a shipyard in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, marking a milestone in a program aimed at replacing the military’s aging fleet of smaller warships with high-tech, multi-mission platforms.
The 3,600-ton guided-missile frigate measures 129 meters in length and 14.8 meters in beam. It is armed with a 5-inch gun, Korea Vertical Launch System (KVLS), surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, tactical ship-to-shore missiles and long-range anti-submarine torpedoes — all domestically developed systems.
ROKS Jeju's most notable upgrade over previous frigates is its Integrated Sensor Mast (ISM) incorporating a domestically developed four-face fixed-array Multifunctional Phased Array Radar (MFR) capable of simultaneous detection, tracking and engagement of multiple air and surface targets across all bearings — a capability comparable to Aegis-class radar systems.
The vessel also carries a hull-mounted sonar and towed array sonar system for enhanced anti-submarine warfare, and uses a hybrid electric drive propulsion system to minimize underwater acoustic signatures.
The ship is the latest in a series to bear the name Jeju, following a vessel received through U.S. military assistance in 1967 and one built with domestic technology in 1989.
The Batch-III series replaces aging FF-class frigates and PCC-class patrol combat corvettes. The three preceding vessels in the series are ROKS Chungnam, ROKS Gyeongbuk and ROKS Jeonnam.
Gen. Jin Yong-sung, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the ceremony as guest of honor. Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, formally proclaimed the ship's name. ROKS Jeju is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in June 2027, after which it will undergo operational testing before fleet deployment.
"The construction of ROKS Jeju, built entirely with domestic technology, demonstrates the excellence of Korea's shipbuilding capability and is expected to contribute to expanding the defense export base," said Chung Jae-joon, deputy minister for DAPA Current Capabilities Program.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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