[Defense Column] Navy Acquires Another Large Transport Ship

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] The Korean large transport ship (amphibious assault ship) Marado, which appeared in dry dock in May 2018, will be delivered to the Navy on June 24-25. It is the second ship of the Dokdo-class operating amphibious assault helicopters and is classified as a large transport ship.

In 2019, the ship began sea trials and various test evaluations, and later was equipped with the American-made Phalanx close-in weapon system and the Israeli MF-STAR multifunction long-range search and tracking air defense radar. In the first half of 2021, the performance of the multifunction long-range search and tracking air defense radar was confirmed.

The test evaluations of the air defense radar and others were smoothly conducted until April 2020, with dozens of tactical aircraft from the Air Force and Navy mobilized. In May, the ship's painting was completed to ensure no delays in the Navy's acceptance.

After receiving the Marado, the Navy plans to conduct crew boarding and operational capability evaluations from July to December 2021 before officially commissioning the ship. The Navy authorities are conducting final inspections ahead of the ship's acceptance and plan to berth it at the Jinhae base.

With the commissioning of Marado in 2022, the Navy will complete a two-ship large transport ship system alongside the Dokdo and is considering deploying them for overseas training cruises.

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps' amphibious assault helicopter MUH-1 Marineon has completed production of the 14th unit, and it is known that shipboard takeoff and landing training with the existing 13 amphibious assault helicopters will begin in the second half of this year.

Since the commissioning of the Dokdo in 2007, after 14 years, it will be possible to operate a practical brigade-level amphibious unit with two large transport ships, four Cheonwangbong-class landing ships, and four Gojunbong-class landing ships.

Currently, the Navy is focusing all efforts on acquiring a Korean-style light aircraft carrier, and at the MADEX 2021 International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition held in Busan, it displayed a model of the light aircraft carrier at the Navy booth to demonstrate its commitment.

After the event, the Navy plans to actively use the latest flight deck-type Marado for promotion to acquire the Korean-style light aircraft carrier.

It is known that the Navy is reviewing plans to berth the Marado as the host ship to welcome the British Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier visiting the Busan Naval Operations Command from late August to September and to hold a media unveiling, or possibly to hold the unveiling before that.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.