Korean Vertical Launch System (KVLS / K-VLS)

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From: http://www.hanwha-defensesystems.co.kr/mobile/eng/products/launcher.do

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ROK Navy Launches New Warship Capable of Hitting Targets Inside North Korea
The new ship will be commissioned by the end of 2018.

By Franz-Stefan Gady
June 09, 2016
     
https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/rok-navy-launches-new-warship-capable-of-hitting-targets-inside-north-korea/
 
At the beginning of June, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy has launched its first improved Incheon-class guided-missile frigate, known as Future Frigate eXperimental (FFX) II during development, The Korea Times reports.

The launching ceremony of the 2,800-ton (3,600-ton full load) frigate Daegu took place on June 2 at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard–the ship’s primary contractor–on Geoje Island, 470 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

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One of the most interesting new features aboard the Daegu is a 16-cell K-VLS Korean-made Vertical Launch System that can launch indigenous Cheolmae-2 medium-range air defense missiles, vertically-launched anti-submarine missiles, as well as long-range land-attack Haeseong-II cruise missiles, specifically designed to hit ballistic missile launching pads in North Korea.

Developed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the Haeseong-II cruise missile has an estimated range of 500 kilometers (310 miles).

The ship could also accommodate the latest variants of the Hyunmoo-3 long-range all weather subsonic cruise missile, the Hyunmoo-3B and Hyunmoo-3C with estimated ranges of 1,000 and 1,500 kilometers respectively.

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From: http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ffx-ii-daegu-class-multi-role-frigates/

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Armament of ROK Navy’s FFX-II batch frigates

Weaponry of the FFX batch II multi-role frigates include one 127mm, 62-calibre Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun system, two 324mm triple-tube Mk-32 anti-submarine torpedo launchers, one RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) Block 1 short-range surface-to-air missile, and two quad SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missile launchers.

The aft section is armed with a six-barrelled 20mm Mk-15 Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon system (CIWS), which is produced by Raytheon to defeat anti-ship missiles, as well as air and surface threats.

The frigates are also equipped with a 16-cell K-VLS (Korean vertical launching system), which is capable of launching Cheolmae-2, medium-range, surface-to-air missiles.

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Korea’s KDX-III AEGIS Destroyers
Jun 11, 2015 00:36 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/drs-wins-multiplexing-contract-for-korean-aegis-destroyers-0431/

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KDX-III ships real firepower lies their array of 128 vertical launch cells, which is slightly more than the American Ticonderoga Class cruiser’s 122 cells. On the Korean ships, these VLS cells come in 2 types.

The standard Mk 41 vertical launch cells are split 48 forward, and 32 aft, for a total of 80. Vertically-launched SM-2 Block IIIA/B surface-to-air missiles handle long-range anti-aircraft duties, and an upgrade to the SM-6 is planned. The ships could also upgrade to ABM-capable SM-3s, if accompanying modifications are made to the radar and combat system, but South Korean leaders aren’t interested. Mk.41 cells can also carry a wide variety of other payloads, including quad-packed RIM-162 anti-aircraft missiles, vertically-launched anti-submarine torpedoes, or Tomahawk cruise missiles. South Korea currently seems focused on filling them with SM-2s. This will give the destroyers 3-layer anti-aerial protection (SM-2/6, RAM, Goalkeeper).

Weapons variety comes from a 3rd VLS set of 48 aft-mounted “K-VLS” cells, a Korean system that holds locally-designed weapons like Hyunmoo cruise missiles, SSM-700K Haesung external link anti-ship missiles, Red Shark “K-ASROC” vertically launched rocket-assisted anti-submarine torpedoes, or other compatible weapons.

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Would Hyundai install a VLS other than K-VLS?

As confirmed by Janes, with their own independent fact checking.

http://www.janes.com/article/75871/hyundai-selects-turkish-30-mm-naval-gun-system-for-philippine-navy-frigates

Hyundai selects Turkish 30 mm naval gun system for Philippine Navy frigates

Ridzwan Rahmat - IHS Jane's Navy International
21 November 2017

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South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) won a contract in 2016 to supply the PN with two 2,600-tonne frigates that derive its design from the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN’s) Incheon (FFX-I) class. Besides the 30 mm gun system, the warship is also expected to be equipped with an eight-cell vertical launching system (VLS) installed at the forward section, and a 76 mm naval gun.

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Did these two graphics -- from two different sites -- get the location of the KVLS on the KDX-III right?

From: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3097234/posts (photo here: http://pds10.egloos.com/pds/200902/19/69/a0113069_499c3cf02aefc.jpg)




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From: http://news.softpedia.com/news/South-Korean-Military-Equipment-Development-Secrets-Compromised-by-Hackers-94876.shtml