South Korean shipbuilding major Hanwha Ocean held a keel laying ceremony for the fifth future frigate eXperimental (FFX) Batch-III Ship for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) on January 27, 2026.
This frigate is one of the final two vessels being constructed as part of the FFX Batch-III program awarded in 2023 to replace the aging corvettes and frigates of the ROKN.
The keel laying for the final sixth ship is planned for July. Meanwhile, the first and second ships of the next-generation FFX Batch-IV project, set to become smart frigates, are currently in the design phase, with construction set to begin in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
The Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate is a 3,500-ton class, 130-meter-long ship that can travel up to 30 knots (55 km per hour). The vessel incorporates anti-aircraft and anti-submarine detection capabilities and hybrid propulsion, combining low- and medium-speed electric propulsion with gas turbine propulsion for high-speed sailing.
The fifth ship is scheduled for delivery to the Republic of Korea Navy in December 2027, and the sixth frigate is slated for delivery around June 2028.