Korean builder Hanwha Ocean at the Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference in Perth presented a range of frigates including FFX Batch II. The approach underscored Hanwha’s shipbuilding know-how, international experience and flexibility of their baseline design proposed for the Australian SEA 3000-requirement.
As Naval News has illustrated through coverage of the various displays at IODS 2024, the ongoing and much debated SEA 3000-effort to build 11 general purpose frigates for the Royal Australian Navy was a significant theme among exhibitors at the event.
In this context Hanwha Ocean (formerly DSME), one of two Korean competitors for the effort together with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), showed the FFX Batch II-frigate. The design is also known as Daegu-class in Korean service. Two additional models were part of the display. One of which was the Thai Bhumibol Adulyadej-class frigate, which DSME originally delivered in 2019. The final model was a new proposal by Hanwha, termed the Ocean 4300 Frigate.
FFX Batch II characteristics detailed
Hanwha Ocean was in charge of the detailed design and construction of the lead ship for the FFX Batch II program. The ROKN has introduced eight Batch II as Daegu-class between 2018 and 2023, of which half were built by Hanwha and the other half by HHI. Together with the HHI-developed FFX Batch 3 the Daegu-class is one of the “exemplars” for SEA 3000.
The Daegu-class is 122 metres long with a beam of 14 metres. Full load displacement is 3,600 tons. Missile armament on the ships is a 16 cell K-VLS for launching the K-SAAM short range air defence missile. Daegu also carries two quadruple launchers for Korean C-Star SSM-700 series AShM and two triple launchers for Korean lightweight ASW torpedoes. Armament is rounded out by an American Mk 45 5 inch (127mm) main gun and the Phalanx 20 mm CIWS. The ship has a cruise range of 4,500 nautical miles. Propulsion is of the combined diesel-electric or gas turbine (CODLOG)-variety, similar to HHI’s Batch 3 design.
Thai FFX Batch II variant illustrates alternate armament options
The Thai ship shown at IODS 2024 illustrates the flexibility of the baseline design also accommodating considerable adaptions in armament and propulsion. The Bhumibol Adulyadej is 2 metres longer and 100 tons heavier than FFX Batch II. Armament includes an eight cell Mk 41 VLS for quadpacked ESSM and RUM-139 ASROC. AShM carried are Harpoon, the main gun is a 76 mm Leonardo Super Rapid, two 30 mm autocannons by MSI Defence can engage surface targets at close range. For ASW duty the Thai ship carries Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes and provides deck and hangar space for an MH-60R or similar helicopter.
Sensor and combat management system illustrate the heavy focus on Saab-provided technology. The medium and long range radars carried are the Sea Giraffe 4A AESA and AMB PESA. The CMS is the Saab 9LV, also used by RAN on their Anzac-class in an earlier iteration.
Propulsion is the final notable aspect, as the Thai ship uses a combined diesel and gas turbine-setup (CODAG). The gas turbine used is GE’s LM2500, unlike on FFX Batch II and III, which use the RR MT30.
Ocean 4300 Frigate tailored to Australian expectations
Last but not least Hanwha showed the Ocean 4300 Frigate. As Hanwha Ocean offical Scott Koh explained to Naval News, Ocean 4300 is a modified FFX Batch II integrating the Thai frigate armament. The stated aim of the new proposal is “to improve interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy”. As a result the concept drops K-VLS and instead features a 32 cell Mk 41. Propulsion and other basic features are similar to FFX Batch II.
A second interesting aspect of Ocean 4300 is the new integrated mast shown on the model. The design does not exactly match the I-Mast developed by Hanwha for the FFX Batch III. The Korean builder displayed I-Mast as a detailed model at their IODS 2024 booth. Instead the arrangement is somewhat reminiscent of the CEAFAR mast as developed for Anzac. However, the mast design lacked any detail such as actual radar panels. The Ocean 4300 mast also included other equipment in line with the FFX Batch III configuration. For the record, Hanwha Ocean last year won a contract to build the final two ships in the FFX Batch III program.
The overall impression from Hanwha at IODS 2024 is that the company was keen to emphasize a large amount of design flexibility catering to notional SEA 3000 requirements. The in-service solutions for both the Korean Navy and an existing export customer meanwhile underline the company’s ability to manage complex defence procurements.
The Australian government has yet to announce a clear timeframe for further decisions on SEA 3000. Next steps may include a possible down-select to meet the desired delivery of a first hull to RAN by 2029.
