ROKS Cheonan (FFG-826)

ROKS Cheonan at sea
History
South Korea
Name	Cheonan (천안)
Namesake	Cheonan
Builder	Hyundai Heavy Industries
Launched	9 November 2021
Commissioned	19 May 2023
Identification	Pennant number: FFG-826
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Daegu-class frigate
Displacement	2,800 t (2,756 long tons) light 3,592 t (3,535 long tons) full load
Length	122 m (400 ft 3 in)
Beam	14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draft	4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	Combined diesel-electric or gas 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine 4 × MTU 12V 4000 M53B diesel engine 2 × Leonardo DRS electric motors
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (max)
Range	4,500 nmi (8,000 km)
Complement	140
Sensors and processing systems	SPS-550K air search 3D radar SPG-540K fire control radar SQS-240K hull-mounted sonar SQR-250K towed array sonar system SAQ-540K EOTS Hanwha Systems SAQ-600K IRSTs Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System
Electronic warfare & decoys	LIG Nex1 SLQ-200(V)K Sonata electronic warfare suite SLQ-261K torpedo acoustic counter measures MASS decoy launchers
Armament	1 × 5 inch (127 mm)/L62 caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun 1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × triple torpedo tubes for K745 Blue Shark torpedo 8 × SSM-700K Haeseong Anti-ship Missile 16-cell K-VLS for: Haegung K-SAAM quadpacked in 4 per cell Haeryong VL-Tactical Land Attack Missiles K-ASROC Red Shark
Aircraft carried	Super Lynx or AW159 helicopter
Aviation facilities	Flight deck and enclosed hangar for one medium-lift helicopter

ROKS Cheonan (FFG-826) is the seventh ship of the Daegu-class frigate in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the city, Cheonan.

Development

Main article: Daegu-class frigate

The Daegu class is an improved variant of the Incheon-class frigate. Modifications to the Incheon class include a TB-250K towed array sonar system and a 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS) that is able to deploy the K-SAAM, Hong Sang Eo anti-submarine missile, and Haeryong tactical land attack cruise missiles.

The hull design is generally based on the one of the Incheon class. However, as a part of weapon system modifications, the superstructure has been significantly changed. The hangar and a helicopter deck over the stern has been enlarged to support the operation of a 10-ton helicopter.

Construction and career

Cheonan was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries at its Ulsan shipyard and launched on 9 November 2021. Cheonan was commissioned on 19 May 2023.

On 22 January 2024, Commander Park Yeon-soo, who had served as the operations officer on ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) when it was sunk by a North Korean torpedo on 26 March 2010 took command of the new Cheonan.