On July 29, 2026, Hanwha Ocean laid the keel of the sixth FFX Batch III frigate for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) at its Geoje shipyard in South Korea.
The ceremony took place on July 23 and marked the start of construction for hull number H.7063, the final ship in the six-vessel program. Hanwha Ocean said the approximately 3,600-ton frigate is scheduled to be launched in February next year. Construction of the fifth ship is already underway at the same yard, following a keel-laying ceremony earlier this year.
The FFX Batch III frigates are also known as the Chungnam-class or Ulsan-class Batch III, which will replace older ROKN frigates while providing the fleet with stronger air-defense, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Construction has been divided among several South Korean shipbuilders. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries built the first ship, ROKS Chungnam (FFG-828), launched in April 2023. SK Oceanplant was selected to build the second, third and fourth vessels. Hanwha Ocean won the contract for ships five and six in 2023, shortly after joining the Hanwha Group.
The class is about 129 meters long and displaces roughly 3,500 to 3,600 tons, depending on the displacement figure used. The vessels are designed for a top speed of 30 knots. Their CODLOG propulsion system combines diesel-electric machinery with a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine.
One of the class’s main features is its integrated sensor mast. The system combines an AESA radar with infrared search-and-track and electro-optical tracking equipment, giving the frigates a substantially improved sensor fit compared with earlier ROKN frigates.
The ships will also receive the South Korean-developed CIWS-II close-in weapon system. Their reported armament includes a Mk 45 5-inch naval gun, anti-ship missiles, the Korean Surface-to-Air Missile (K-SAAM), and a 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System.
The design uses a box-girder hull structure intended to reduce drag and improve survivability after battle damage. The Batch III frigates are also important as a platform for South Korean-developed naval systems. Several of the sensors, combat-management systems and weapons being introduced with the class could inform future ROKN surface-combatant programs, including the KDDX destroyer.
Hanwha Ocean is already working on the next stage of the frigate program. The company said it is designing the first and second FFX Batch IV ships, which it describes as smart warships with advanced combat systems.
With the sixth hull now under construction at Geoje, all six FFX Batch III frigates have either been launched, are fitting out, or are in various stages of construction.
