{{short description|Class of South Korean guided-missile frigates}} {{redirect|FFX-I|the videogame FF-X part 1|Final Fantasy X}} {{redirect|FFG-I|the warship|USS Brooke (FFG-1)}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = 20130626 대한해협 전승행사 (4) (9460603621).jpg | image_caption = ''Incheon''-class frigate }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name=''Incheon'' class |builders=*Hyundai Heavy Industries *STX Offshore & Shipbuilding |operators={{navy|South Korea}} |class_before=*{{sclass|Ulsan|frigate|4}} *{{sclass|Pohang|corvette|1}} |class_after= {{sclass|Daegu|frigate|4}} |subclasses={{sclass|Jose Rizal|frigate|4}} |cost= |built_range= |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= 2012–present |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= 6 |total_ships_completed= 6 |total_ships_active= 6 |total_ships_canceled= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Guided-missile frigate | displacement = * {{cvt|2500|t|LT}} (empty) * {{cvt|3300|t|LT}} (full load)<ref name="Tada2013"/> | length = {{convert|114|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|14|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | draft = {{convert|4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | propulsion = *CODOG *2 × MTU 12V 1163 TB83 diesel engine *2 × GE LM2500 gas turbine<ref name="Tada2013">{{Cite journal|author=Tomohiko Tada|date=August 2013|title=13. Incheon class FF / South Korea|journal=Ships of the World|issue=782|pages=102–103}}</ref> | speed = *{{convert|30|knot}} (max) *{{convert|18|knot}} (cruising) | range = {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} | endurance = | troops = | complement = 140 | sensors = * SPS-550K air search 3D radar * SPG-540K fire control radar * SQS-240K hull-mounted sonar * SAQ-540K EOTS * Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System | EW = * LIG Nex1 SLQ-200(V)K ''Sonata'' electronic warfare suite * SLQ-261K torpedo acoustic counter measures * KDAGAIE Mk 2 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 * 1 × RAM Block 1 CIWS * 8 × SSM-700K Haeseong Anti-ship Missile in quad configuration * 8 × Haeryong Tactical Land Attack Missile in quad configuration | aircraft = Super Lynx or AW159 helicopter | aircraft_facilities = Flight deck and enclosed hangar for one medium-lift helicopter | notes = }} }}
The '''''Incheon''-class frigates''' ({{Langx|ko|인천급 호위함}}, Hanja: 仁川級護衛艦), also known as the '''Future Frigate eXperimental''' or '''FFX''' during development, and latterly, the '''FFX-I''',<ref name=NavalTech-20160905> {{cite web |url= https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ffx-ii-daegu-class-multi-role-frigates/ |title= FFX-II (Daegu Class) Multi-Role Frigates |publisher= Naval Technology |date= 5 September 2016 }}</ref> or '''FFG-I''',<ref name=SeaforcesOLorg-IncheonFFG> {{cite web |url= https://www.seaforces.org/marint/Republic-Korea-Navy/Frigate/Incheon-class-FFG.htm |title= Incheon class (FFG-I) Guided Missile Frigate |publisher= Seaforces Online }} </ref> are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship was launched on 29 April 2011. The ''Incheon''-class frigates will replace the aging fleet of {{sclass|Pohang|corvette}}s and {{sclass|Ulsan|frigate|1}}s, and take over multi-role operations such as coast patrol, anti-submarine warfare and transport support. Later batches are planned to be specialized on anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. An improved version is being introduced as the {{sclass|Daegu|frigate|1}}; this was previously known as Batch II of the ''Incheon'' class, ''FFX-II''.<ref name=NavalTech-20160905/>
== Development ==
{{see also|Daegu-class frigate}} In the early 1990s, the Korean government plan for the construction of next generation coastal ships named "Frigate 2000" was scrapped due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. But the decommissioning of the {{sclass|Gearing|destroyer}}s and the aging fleet of {{sclass|Ulsan|frigate}}s, the plan was revived as the Future Frigate eXperimental, also known as FFX in the early 2000s.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) initially wanted twenty-four 3,000 ton frigates to replace the ''Ulsan''-, {{sclass|Pohang|corvette|5}}- and {{sclass|Donghae|corvette|5}}-class coastal fleet of 37 ships. It was later decided that six 2,700 ton ships will be constructed for the first batch. In 2008, the plan was further downgraded to 2,300 tons when president Lee Myung-bak took office, with the number of ships for the first batch down to six. Eight ships are planned for the second batch of FFX with the final goal of 20–22 frigates.<ref name="MT30">{{cite web|url=http://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/yr-2017/1605-2017-rr-to-supply-mt30-gas-turbines-to-next-three-korean-daegu-class-frigates.aspx|title=Rolls-Royce to supply MT30 Gas Turbines to next three Korean Daegu-class frigates|website=www.rolls-royce.com|access-date=2017-05-27|archive-date=2022-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205112327/https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2017/1605-2017-rr-to-supply-mt30-gas-turbines-to-next-three-korean-daegu-class-frigates.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2010 the construction of the first FFX frigate was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industry and in April 2011 the first of its class, ROKS ''Incheon'' was launched. The ship is named after the western port city of Incheon, representing the ROKN's initiative to defend the western islands due to the constant clashes with the North Korean navy in this area.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
== Armament == The ''Incheon''-class frigate's main gun is the 127 mm/L62 Mk. 45 Mod 4 naval gun.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brand-new - naval ships built in 2013|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/features/featurebrand-new---naval-ships-built-in-2013-4353514/|publisher= Naval-technology.com|date= 2014-08-26}}</ref> This was chosen over a smaller 76 mm for naval barrage support in amphibious landings and superiority in ship to ship firing.<ref>{{cite news|title= 해군 차기호위함 '인천함', 29일 울산서 진수| newspaper=세계일보 |url=http://media.daum.net/politics/dipdefen/view.html?cateid=1068&newsid=20110429132504915&p=segye|publisher= Segye Ilbo|date= 2011-04-29}}</ref> Point-defense armaments include a single 20 mm Phalanx CIWS and a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1 21-round launcher. The anti-submarine warfare armaments consists of K745 LW ''Cheong Sahng-uh'' (Blue Shark) torpedoes.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
Anti-ship capability is provided by SSM-700K ''Haeseong'' (Sea Star) long-range anti-ship missiles, each with performance similar to the American Harpoon. Land-attack capability is provided by the recently developed Tactical Ship to Land attack missile, which is derived from the SSM-700K ''Haeseong''; initially, the land attack missiles were planned to start arming batch 2 ''Incheon''-class ships, but feasibility studies showed they could be retrofitted to batch 1 ships, which began in September 2016, enhancing their flexibility and deterrence capabilities with {{convert|150|-|200|km|mi|abbr=on}}-range tactical missiles.<ref>[https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/08/205_212354.html S. Korean Navy to arm frigates with tactical ship-to-land missiles] - Koreatimes.co.kr, 21 August 2016</ref>
== Ships in the class == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Name !Pennant number !Builder !Launched !Commissioned !Status |- |{{ROKS|Incheon|FFG-811|6}} |FFG-811 |Hyundai Heavy Industries |29 April 2011 |17 January 2013<ref>{{cite web|title= Republic of Korea Navy commissions First of Class "Incheon" FFX I Frigate|url= http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=842|publisher= Navy Recognition|date= 2013-01-18|access-date= 2013-02-27|archive-date= 2013-03-01|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130301141015/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=842|url-status= dead}}</ref> |Active |- |{{ROKS|Gyeonggi|FFG-812|6}} |FFG-812 |Hyundai Heavy Industries |18 July 2013 |4 November 2014 |Active |- |{{ROKS|Jeonbuk|FFG-813|6}} |FFG-813 |Hyundai Heavy Industries |13 November 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/november-2013-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1355--hyundai-heavy-industries-launched-the-third-incheon-class-frigate-roks-jeonbuk.html|title=Hyundai Heavy Industries launched the 3rd Incheon class frigate ROKS Jeonbuk|date=November 14, 2013|access-date=November 15, 2013|archive-date=December 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201185008/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/november-2013-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1355--hyundai-heavy-industries-launched-the-third-incheon-class-frigate-roks-jeonbuk.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |5 January 2015 |Active |- |{{ROKS|Gangwon|FFG-815|6}} |FFG-815 |STX Offshore & Shipbuilding |12 August 2014 |November 2015 |Active |- |{{ROKS|Chungbuk|FFG-816|6}} |FFG-816 |STX Offshore & Shipbuilding |23 October 2014 |26 January 2016 |Active |- |{{ROKS|Gwangju|FFG-817|6}} |FFG-817 |STX Offshore & Shipbuilding |11 August 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/08/116_184606.html|title=Navy launches new frigate Gwangju, 6th in next-generation fleet project|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> |9 November 2016 |Active |- |}
== Export market == A variant of the ''Incheon'' class was offered by Hyundai Heavy Industries to the Philippines' Department of National Defense for their requirement of two new frigates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php?&sid=6&pfn=502983&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=incheon&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=0 |title=South Korean defense manufacturer signifies interest to provide DND's frigate requirements |work=Philippine News Agency |date=2013-03-02 |access-date=2013-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504143517/http://www.pna.gov.ph/index_arc.php |archive-date=2010-05-04 }}</ref> On 24 October 2016, the contract to supply two brand new general purpose stealth frigates was signed between the Department of National Defense, represented by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, and Hyundai Heavy Industries, represented by its Senior Vice President Mr. Ki Sun Chung, under the presence of officials from the DND, AFP, PN, HHI, and the South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://dnd.gov.ph/PDF2019/DNDPR52419BRPJoseRizalLaunching.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715142241/https://dnd.gov.ph/PDF2019/DNDPR52419BRPJoseRizalLaunching.pdf|archive-date=2019-07-15 |title=Philippine Navy's first ever state-of-the-art frigate launched in South Korea |publisher=The Philippines Department of National Defense |date=24 May 2019}}</ref>
In November 2012, it was reported that Israel was mulling a deal to purchase four ''Incheon''-class frigates from South Korea, which would be built jointly by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Israel Shipyards.{{cn|date=July 2021}}
== See also == *List of frigate classes in service
'''Equivalent frigates of the same era''' * {{sclass|Formidable|frigate|4}} * Type 054 * {{sclass|Valour|frigate|4}} * Project 11356R * {{sclass|Fridtjof Nansen|frigate|4}} * {{sclass|Absalon|frigate|4}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{Commons category-inline|Incheon class frigates}}
{{Incheon-class frigate}} {{Republic of Korea Navy ships}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Incheon''-class frigate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Incheon-class frigate}} Category:Incheon-class frigates Category:Frigate classes Category:Frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy Category:ADD research and development projects Category:CODOG ships