[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] 'Arsenal of the Sea' Equipped with Monster Missiles Emerges

Joint Fire Support Ship Equipped with 99 Vertical Launchers
Capable of Carrying at Least 10 Types of Various Missiles

With the joint firepower ship model unveiled for the first time, attention is focusing on its combat capabilities. The joint firepower ship is a vessel known as a maritime missile base, serving as a core naval force prepared to retaliate at sea in anticipation of damage to key ground military facilities from enemy missile attacks at the onset of war. Especially since North Korea lacks long-range anti-ship attack capabilities, the joint firepower ship, which moves at sea while launching ballistic missiles, is evaluated to have sufficient deterrence power.

The joint firepower ship was initially decided as a long-term new requirement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2018, but its priority was pushed back as the introduction of a light aircraft carrier was pursued first. With the current administration emphasizing massive retaliation, the joint firepower ship project was revived. The joint firepower ship design was revealed just two months after Hanwha Ocean was selected as the preferred bidder for the concept design research contract.

Hanwha Ocean will determine specific operational requirement capabilities (ROC) such as ship size, form, and missile payload through the research contract. After the concept design phase, when the joint firepower ship is converted into a mid-term requirement around next year, it will proceed through preliminary research, requirement verification, feasibility study, basic design, detailed design, and ship construction. So far, the military plans to build and operationalize three joint firepower ships by the late 2020s.

Over 10 types of missiles including Haegung, Haeseong-2 (Hyunmoo-3), Haeryong, and Hongsang-eo mounted on the bow vertical launchers
Midship can launch 4-2 land-attack ballistic missiles and supersonic anti-ship missiles
At the stern, Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missiles with one of the world’s largest warhead weights aimed at the North

When the joint firepower ship is actually constructed, it is expected to be equipped with 80 land-attack ballistic missiles, close-in weapon systems (CIWS), light torpedoes, and various other armaments. Considering the model unveiled by Hanwha Ocean equipped with 99 vertical launchers, it is likely to carry at least 10 types of missiles.

The model hull has no naval guns unlike existing ships. Instead, it is equipped with 48 KVLS-1 vertical launchers. It is expected to carry Haegung naval surface-to-air missiles, Haeseong-2 (Hyunmoo-3) naval surface-to-surface missiles, Haeryong naval surface-to-surface missiles, and Hongsang-eo anti-submarine missiles.

At the center of the hull, there are 32 KVLS-2 vertical launchers larger than the KVLS-1 launchers. These can be equipped with Hyunmoo 4-2 land-attack ballistic missiles and supersonic anti-ship missiles. Behind them are 15 vertical launchers for large ballistic missiles, and on the aft deck, four large upright vertical launchers are installed. The 15 vertical launchers can carry Trident-class ballistic missiles measuring 10 to 13 meters.

The four large upright vertical launchers mounted at the stern are designed to launch satellite launch vehicles. They are expected to carry the ‘Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile,’ which the South Korean military plans to complete development within this year. The Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, known as a ‘monster missile’ due to its world-class warhead weight, is classified as a tactical nuclear weapon. It is reported to carry an 8-ton warhead, ascend to the exosphere (altitude 500?1000 km), and descend at speeds exceeding Mach 10. It can destroy command and strategic targets located in tunnels deeper than 100 meters underground.

Because the warhead weight of the Hyunmoo-5 is so large, its launch method differs from previous missiles. Until now, Hyunmoo missiles have used a ‘hot launch’ method, where the engine ignites directly at launch. However, launching the Hyunmoo-5 this way could melt the launcher due to the powerful engine. Therefore, the Hyunmoo-5 uses a ‘cold launch’ method, where it is ejected about 30 meters into the air from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) before the engine ignites and the missile launches.

The United States also once pursued the introduction of a joint firepower ship, but cost was an issue. In 1990, the U.S. Congress pointed out that a joint firepower ship carrying an excessive amount of armaments could suffer massive damage if attacked, and considering budget constraints, multipurpose warships were more necessary than single-purpose vessels.

The Arsenal Ship concept was eventually scrapped, but it led to the next-generation destroyer project (DDX), which produced the stealth-capable Zumwalt-class destroyer. The ship was named after Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., the youngest Chief of Naval Operations in U.S. Navy history.

Although classified as a destroyer, the Zumwalt-class is nearly twice the size of other countries’ destroyers. It measures 182.9 meters in length and has a full load displacement of about 15,000 tons. The cost per ship is approximately 4 trillion won, four times that of South Korea’s Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyer.

Thanks to stealth special coatings and unique design, the Zumwalt-class has only a 1 in 50 chance of being detected by radar compared to conventional ships. Its radar cross-section (RCS) is reduced so that it appears as a small boat on enemy radar. Its noise level is also as low as that of an LA-class nuclear attack submarine, making it difficult to detect with sonar.

It is equipped with SM-6 naval surface-to-air missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and anti-submarine vertical launch missiles, and is planned to be equipped with an electromagnetic railgun. The railgun is a futuristic advanced weapon that uses electromagnetic force to launch projectiles at speeds seven times the speed of sound.

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