Daegu-class frigate

The Daegu-class frigate (Hangul: 대구급 호위함, Hanja: 大邱級護衛艦) is a class of guided missile frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). The Daegu class is based on the preceding Incheon class, and has otherwise been referred to as the Incheon class batch II, or FFG-II. Eight Daegu-class ships have been commissioned, with the final goal of 20–22 frigates, of all types, in the ROKN.^[1] The Daegu-class frigates were built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.

ROKS Seoul
Class overview
Name	Daegu class
Builders	Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries
Operators	Republic of Korea Navy
Preceded by	Incheon class
Succeeded by	Chungnam class
In commission	2018–present
Planned	8
Completed	8
Active	8
General characteristics
Type	Guided missile frigate
Displacement	3,100 t (empty), 3,600 t (full load)
Length	122 m (400 ft 3 in)
Beam	14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draft	4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	Combined diesel–electric or gas 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine 4 × MTU 12V 4000 M53B diesel engine 2 × Leonardo DRS electric motors
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (max) 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (cruising)
Range	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi)
Complement	140
Sensors and processing systems	SPS-550K air search 3D radar SPG-540K fire control radar SQS-240K hull-mounted sonar SQR-250K towed array sonar system SAQ-540K EOTS Hanwha Systems SAQ-600K IRSTs Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System
Electronic warfare & decoys	LIG Nex1 SLQ-200(V)K Sonata electronic warfare suite SLQ-261K torpedo acoustic counter measures MASS decoy launchers
Armament	1 × 5-inch (127 mm)/L62 caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun 1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 6 × K745 Blue Shark torpedo in triple torpedo tubes 8 × SSM-700K Haeseong Anti-ship Missile 16-cell K-VLS for: Haegung K-SAAM quadpacked in 4 per cell Haeryong VL-Tactical Land Attack Missiles K745A1 Red Shark
Aircraft carried	Super Lynx or AW159 helicopter
Aviation facilities	Flight deck and enclosed hangar for one medium-lift helicopter

Features

See also: Incheon-class frigate

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, K745A1 Red Shark anti-submarine missile, and SSM-700K Haeseong tactical land attack cruise missiles.^[2]

The hull design is generally based on the Incheon class. As a part of weapon system modifications, the superstructure has been significantly changed. The hangar and a helicopter deck on the stern has been enlarged to support the operation of a 10-ton helicopter.^[3][4]

The Daegu class is the first Korean warship equipped with a combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) propulsion system. The propulsion system of the ROKN ships have a gas turbine direct drive, and four high speed diesel generators driving two Leonardo DRS permanent magnet electric motors. The Rolls Royce MT30 turbine engine replaces the twin gas turbine layout of the Incheon-class frigates.^[1]

The Daegu class provides improved anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability than the predecessor Incheon class. An improved ASW capability is provided by the Hanwha Systems SQS-250K towed array sonar and SQS-240K hull-mounted sonar.^[5]

Ships in the class

Name	Pennant number	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Status
ROKS Daegu	FFG-818	DSME	2 June 2016	6 March 2018	Active
ROKS Gyeongnam	FFG-819	DSME[6]	21 June 2019[7]	4 Jan 2021	Active
ROKS Seoul	FFG-821	Hyundai Heavy Industries	11 November 2019	July 2021	Active
ROKS Donghae	FFG-822	Hyundai Heavy Industries	29 April 2020	10 November 2021	Active
ROKS Daejeon	FFG-823	DSME	3 May 2021[8]	27 February 2023	Active
ROKS Pohang	FFG-825	DSME	8 September 2021	28 February 2023[9]	Active
ROKS Cheonan	FFG-826	Hyundai Heavy Industries	9 November 2021[10]	19 May 2023[11]	Active
ROKS Chuncheon	FFG-827	Hyundai Heavy Industries	22 March 2022	24 October 2023[12]	Active

Export

Peru

On 16 April 2024, Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a ₩640.6 billion ($463.7 million) deal with SIMA, Peru's state-run shipyard, to build four naval vessels, including a 3,400-ton frigate based on the Daegu class. The ship will be built at a local Peruvian shipyard under the deal and delivered to the Peruvian Navy in 2030.^[13][14]