{"id":53280,"date":"2018-10-21T22:00:58","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T22:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/21\/european-systems-boost-south-korean-naval-buildups\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:53:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:53:41","slug":"european-systems-boost-south-korean-naval-buildups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/euronaval\/2018\/10\/21\/european-systems-boost-south-korean-naval-buildups\/","title":{"rendered":"European systems boost South Korean naval buildups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL \u2014 The South Korean Navy is taking steps<\/a> toward developing an ocean-going force, but it\u2019s defense companies a continent over that are largely supporting the Navy\u2019s arms buildup efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service has selected the British firm Rolls-Royce for its MT30 marine gas turbine to power a new class of six FFX-III frigates to be deployed in the mid-2020s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contract is the second of its kind since it chose the MT30, a derivative of the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 aero engine, in 2012 to power its Daegu-class frigates under the FFX-II program, aimed at commissioning up to eight 2,800-ton vessels armed with advanced naval warfare systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead ship of the Daegu class recently entered service with three other hulls under construction. The 3,000-ton FFX-III batch is under exploratory development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe next-generation frigates of the FFX-II and FFX-III feature stealthy design and higher performances with a broader operational range,\u201d said Bang Geuk-cheol, a secretary with the warship programs department of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration. \u201cIn particular, the new frigates will have far better survivability with the help of a quiet hybrid propulsion system to conduct more effective anti-submarine operations. The warships will play a pivotal role in defending the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weighing 6,500 kilograms, or about 14,330 pounds, the MT30 is known to offer a maximum power rating between 36 megawatts and 40 megawatts. The FFX-II batch is fitted with a single MT30 and four diesel generators to provide quiet operations and increased fuel efficiency. The ship normally is electrically propelled but is able to operate at full speed using the MT30 turbine.<\/p>\n\n\n\t