South Korea begins process to refine details of FFX Batch IV frigate

A computer-generated image of South Korea's future FFX Batch IV frigate. (Hanwha Ocean)

A grouping of several South Korean companies has begun a process to refine details for the country's future FFX Batch IV frigates, the state's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) disclosed on 22 January.

These companies include Hanwha Ocean, which received a KRW839.1 billion (USD586.4 million) contract to build the first two frigates of the programme in December 2024.

Other companies in the grouping include South Korean defence electronics firm LIG Nex1 and military equipment manufacturer Hanwha Systems.

The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) operates a fleet of six Incheon (FFX-I)-class frigates commissioned from 2012 and eight Daegu (FFX-II)-class frigates inducted beginning in 2018.

In addition to these, the RoKN commissioned its first Chungnam (FFX-III)-class frigate in December 2024 and is scheduled to receive at least five more vessels in this class.

For its FFX-IV frigates, South Korea's defence policy makers have called for at least a doubling in the range at which it is able to detect hostile munitions aircraft, vessels, and aircraft when compared with the FFX-III frigates, read the DAPA statement issued on 22 January.

Similar to its predecessors, the FFX-IV frigates can also deploy guided weapons including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine effectors.

In addition to these combat systems, the FFX-IV frigates will feature a networked propulsion and power generation system that can autonomously transmit maintenance-related data to its crew, which would improve response time.

In response to questions from Janes, a representative from Hanwha Ocean noted on 24 January that the company is not yet able to reveal other details of the vessel at this juncture.