Republic of Korea Navy upgrades Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer


According to information published by the Korea Herald on October 25, 2021, the Republic of Korea Navy received an upgraded destroyer, the Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, after more than a year of refurbishment aimed at bolstering anti-submarine and other capabilities, the state arms procurement agency said.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer (Picture source: Naver account of monochrome)


ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great (DDH-971) is the lead ship of the Gwanggaeto the Great-class in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after Gwanggaeto the Great.

The Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers, often called KDX-I, are destroyers but are classified by some as frigates, operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. It was the first phase of ROKN's KDX program, in moving the ROK Navy from a coastal defense force to a blue-water navy.

The primary weapon deployed by Gwanggaeto the Great-class vessels is the Super Lynx helicopter, which acts in concert with shipboard sensors to seek out and destroy submarines at long distances from the ships.

The Gwanggaeto the Great class also carries a close-in anti-submarine weapon in the form of the Mark 46 torpedoes, launched from triple torpedo tubes in launcher compartments on either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar. A secondary anti-shipping role is supported by the RGM-84 Harpoon surface-to-surface missile, mounted in two quadruple launch tubes at the main deck level between the funnel and the helicopter hangar.

For anti-aircraft self-defense, the Gwanggaeto the Great class carries 16 RIM-7P Sea Sparrow. The Gwanggaeto the Great class also carries two 30mm Goalkeepers to provide a shipboard point-defense against incoming anti-ship missiles and aircraft. The main gun on the forecastle is an OTO Melara 127 gun.