South Korean Navy receives four new Chamsuri Batch-II patrol boats armed with 130mm rocket system.

The South Korean Navy has taken delivery of four new Chamsuri Batch II patrol boats equipped with a 130 mm guided rocket system on December 8, 2025. The vessels strengthen coastal defense and improve rapid-response capability in high-tension maritime areas.

The South Korean Navy confirmed on December 8, 2025, that four next-generation Chamsuri Batch II patrol boats, each fitted with a 130 mm guided rocket launcher, have officially entered service following a launch ceremony at HJ Heavy Industries in Busan. Officials described these vessels as a crucial step in coastal modernization, citing faster acceleration, enhanced situational awareness, and greater lethality in intercepting hostile small craft in contested littoral zones. Although acceptance trials continue into early 2026, the platforms will begin replacing aging Chamsuri-class boats that have patrolled Korean waters for over three decades.
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The four newly launched Chamsuri Batch-II high-speed patrol boats (PKMR-231, 232, 233, and 235) lined up at HJ Heavy Industries in Busan on December 8, 2025, showcasing the Republic of Korea Navy’s next-generation coastal defense assets. (Picture source: South Korean Navy)

The 230-ton, 45-meter-long Chamsuri Batch-II vessels represent a significant leap forward in South Korea’s coastal combat capability. Designed for rapid-response operations in confined maritime environments, these ships combine speed, maneuverability, and firepower in a compact hull optimized for both deterrence and interdiction missions. Their deployment underscores Seoul’s strategic shift toward distributed, high-readiness naval assets capable of responding to asymmetric threats, including infiltration attempts, small boat swarm attacks, and low-visibility incursions.

The Batch-II variant stands out for its next-generation combat management system, which directly links with its core weapon platforms. This configuration includes the 130mm guided rocket system, 76mm naval gun, and a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station. The designers have fully networked the fire control architecture to support faster target acquisition, real-time threat assessment, and precision strike coordination—all from a single, unified control interface.

The rocket system is specifically tailored for close-inshore engagement, with improved guidance and a high saturation rate for area denial missions. It offers a rapid salvo capability suitable for countering fast-moving, low-signature surface threats at short ranges. The 76mm gun, meanwhile, provides versatile firepower with high elevation tracking, enabling coverage against both surface and limited aerial threats. The addition of electro-optical sensors and a modern surface-search radar enhances detection accuracy in complex coastal clutter environments, such as those along the Korean Peninsula’s western maritime boundary.

Beyond firepower, Batch-II patrol boats incorporate advanced electronic warfare enhancements, including hardened communications (resistant to jamming and interception) and GPS anti-jamming systems (which protect navigation signals from interference). These upgrades maintain operational integrity under electromagnetic attack, a growing concern as North Korea increasingly focuses on electronic disruption tactics. Planners also expect the vessels to receive soft-kill decoy systems (devices that mislead incoming guided munitions) to enhance survivability against guided munitions.

Strategically, the Batch-II PKMR closes a critical operational gap for the Republic of Korea Navy. It replaces the older 150-ton Chamsuri-class fast patrol boats, which have served as front-line defenders of South Korean waters since the 1970s but lack the modern sensor integration and survivability required in today’s electronic battlespace. The new vessels enable a layered maritime defense doctrine by serving as rapid interceptors and surveillance nodes in coordination with larger platforms, such as the Incheon-class frigates and maritime patrol aircraft.

With increasing tensions in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, the Navy’s emphasis on small, capable ships reflects a broader doctrinal evolution toward mobility, network-centric warfare, and coastal dominance. These vessels are optimized for Korea’s dense maritime borders, where speed and immediate engagement capability can be the difference between deterrence and escalation.

Following their launch, Chamsuri-231, 232, 233, and 235 will enter sea trials and combat systems integration phases before being delivered to the Navy between August and November 2026. Once operational, they are expected to serve on the front line of South Korea’s maritime defense architecture, patrolling disputed waters, monitoring irregular vessel activity, and responding rapidly to surface-level provocations or infiltration attempts.

The PKMR Batch-II program reaffirms South Korea’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority and operational readiness in its coastal zones, ensuring that even its smallest ships remain strategically relevant in an increasingly complex maritime security environment.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.