ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise

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The Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROK Navy) released pictures of a recent anti-ship missile exercise which took place in the Sea of Japan (Donghae or East Sea). The pictures, taken July 6th, show Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (KDX-I) ROKS Yang Manchun launching a Harpoon anti-ship missile and Incheon-class frigate (FFX-I) ROKS Chungbuk launching a C-Star SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missile.

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Naval Forces News - South Korea

ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise

The Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROK Navy) released pictures of a recent anti-ship missile exercise which took place in the Sea of Japan (Donghae or East Sea). The pictures, taken July 6th, show Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (KDX-I) ROKS Yang Manchun launching a Harpoon anti-ship missile and Incheon-class frigate (FFX-I) ROKS Chungbuk launching a C-Star SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missile.

Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (KDX-I) ROKS Yang Manchun launching a Harpoon anti-ship missile. ROK Navy picture.

Gwanggaeto the Great-class (KDX-I) The Gwanggaeto the Great-class of destroyers was the first phase of the ROK Navy's KDX program which was launched to transform the ROK Navy from a coastal defence force to a blue-water navy. There are three vessels in the class commissioned between 1998 and 2000. The class has a maximum displacement of 3,900 tons and is fitted with an Oto Melara main gun (127mm), 2x Thales Goalkeeper CIWS, 8x Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 16x VLS for Sea Sparrow SAM and torpedo launchers.

Incheon-class frigate (FFX-I) ROKS Chungbuk launching a C-Star SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missile. ROK Navy picture.

Incheon-class (FFX-I) The FFX programme (Future Frigate eXperimental) was launched to replace the ageing Ulsan Class frigates and Pohang Class corvette in the ROK Navy fleet. Partially designed by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, Incheon Frigates will be built in three batches by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine & Engineering (DSME). Heavily armed for their displacement (127mm main gun, 8x anti-ship missiles) Incheon Class frigates may fullfil mutlitple tasks including coastal patrol, coastal fire support, anti-submarine warfare... They represent a significative increase in overall capabilities compared to the two classes of vessels they are intended to replace.

Video on C-Star anti-ship missile

C-Star missile Also known as SSM-700K Haeseong, C-Star is a ship launched anti-ship cruise missile developed by the Korean Agency for Defense Development and LIG Nex1 for the Republic of Korea Navy. The missiles are deployed since 2005 on KDX-II and KDX-III destroyers. C-Star missiles are also fitted aboard the new FFX Incheon class of frigates. C Star has a range of over 150 Km a top speed of Mach 0.85 and is capable of low altitude sea skimming flight.