South Korea launches the new Daegu-class frigate Daejeon.

According to information published by the Korea Herald on May 4, 2021, South Korea held a launching ceremony for a new 2,800-ton frigate with improved anti-submarine capabilities, the South Korean Navy said.
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The new Daegu-class frigate Daejeon (Picture source: Facebook account of Republic of Korea Navy)

The new warship Daejeon is the fifth of the country's FFX Batch II frigates to replace the 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 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Boo Suk-jong.

The 122-meter frigate will carry various weapons, including ship-to-ship and surface-to-ground missiles, as well as a helicopter for naval operations and will carry 120 crew members aboard.

The new frigate has improved the capability to detect and attack submarines with a towed array sonar system and a long-range antisubmarine torpedo, according to the military.

The Daegu-class frigate is a class of guided-missile frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). Eight Daegu-class ships are planned, with the final goal of 20-22 frigates (of all types) in the ROKN. The Daegu-class frigates are to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The Daegu-class is an improved variant of the Incheon-class frigate. Modifications to the Incheon-class include a TB-250K towed array sonar system and a 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS) that is able to deploy the K-SAAM, Hong Sang Eo anti-submarine missile, and Haeryong tactical land-attack cruise missiles.

The Daegu-class is the first Korean warship to be equipped with a combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) propulsion system. The propulsion system of the ROKN ships has a gas turbine direct-drive and four high-speed diesel generators driving two Leonardo DRS permanent magnet electric motors.