Hanwha Ocean lays keel for South Korea’s fifth FFX Batch-III frigate
South Korean shipbuilding major Hanwha Ocean held a keel laying ceremony for the fifth future frigate eXperimental (FFX) Batch-III Ship for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) on January 27, 2026.
This frigate is one of the final two vessels being constructed as part of the FFX Batch-III program awarded in 2023 to replace the aging corvettes and frigates of the ROKN.
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The keel laying for the final sixth ship is planned for July. Meanwhile, the first and second ships of the next-generation FFX Batch-IV project, set to become smart frigates, are currently in the design phase, with construction set to begin in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
The Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate is a 3,500-ton class, 130-meter-long ship that can travel up to 30 knots (55 km per hour). The vessel incorporates anti-aircraft and anti-submarine detection capabilities and hybrid propulsion, combining low- and medium-speed electric propulsion with gas turbine propulsion for high-speed sailing.
The fifth ship is scheduled for delivery to the Republic of Korea Navy in December 2027, and the sixth frigate is slated for delivery around June 2028.
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The post Hanwha Ocean lays keel for South Korea’s fifth FFX Batch-III frigate appeared first on Naval Today.