Hanwha Ocean Signs Main Contract for Construction of Ulsan-class 'Smart Escort Ship' Batch-IV Units 1 and 2

Batch-IV, 'A New Dimension Frigate Never Seen Before'

Constructed as a 'Smart Frigate' Differentiated from Existing Frigates

Hanwha Ocean is set to begin full-scale construction of the Ulsan-class frigate Batch-IV ships No. 1 and 2.

Ulsan-class Frigate Deployment-IV Rendering. Provided by Hanwha Ocean

This order, following the Ulsan-class Batch-III ships No. 5 and 6, is being praised as a reaffirmation of Hanwha Ocean’s reputation as a ‘shipbuilding powerhouse.’

Hanwha Ocean (CEO Hee-chul Kim) signed a main contract worth 839.1 billion KRW on the 18th with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for the ‘Ulsan-class Batch-IV ships No. 1 and 2 construction project,’ which will run until December 2030.

The Ulsan-class Batch-IV, the final phase of the four-stage project replacing the Ulsan-class frigates used since the 1980s, will see a total of six ships constructed. This project holds great significance as it completes the future of frigates operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. Although there are no changes in displacement or external design compared to the Ulsan-class Batch-III ships No. 5 and 6, the Ulsan-class Batch-IV is essentially a ‘full-change’ model differentiated as a ‘smart frigate’ from previous frigates.

The Ulsan-class Batch-IV will integrate upgraded combat systems and four types of armaments, along with new equipment such as the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)-II and Electronic Warfare Equipment-II.

Additionally, the ship design considers manpower reduction in future operational environments with decreasing personnel resources, and plans to improve crew operational and living convenience. Furthermore, it will be equipped with a cybersecurity monitoring system to counter enemy cyber threats and advanced capabilities to respond to unmanned aerial vehicle threats.

Hanwha Ocean aims to contribute to strengthening the Republic of Korea Navy’s naval power and autonomous defense capabilities by successfully delivering the Batch-IV ships No. 1 and 2, following the Batch-III ships No. 5 and 6.

Hanwha Ocean is the only company that has built the entire lineup of the advanced domestically produced destroyer construction projects KDX-I, II, and III, which introduced new combat concepts since 2000, and is currently the largest supplier of destroyers operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.

Jo Yong-jun, Team Leader of Hanwha Ocean’s Special Ship Domestic Sales Team, emphasized, “While maintaining the technical continuity of the Ulsan-class Batch-III ships No. 5 and 6, we will create a frigate never seen before based on the most advanced smart ship solutions.”

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