The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a combined launching ceremony for four new Chamsuri-class PKMR (Patrol Killer Medium Rocket) fast attack craft on December 8 at HJ Shipbuilding & Construction’s Busan shipyard.
The newly launched vessels, Chamsuri-231, Chamsuri-232, Chamsuri-233, and Chamsuri-235, are 230-ton-class patrol craft that will be deployed to forward areas to conduct coastal surveillance and to intercept and neutralize infiltration threats along the Northern Limit Line (NLL). They are the first four ships of the PKX-B Batch-II program.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 70 representatives from the military, government, and industry, including Rear Adm. Ahn Sang-min, Commander of the ROK Navy Logistics Command, who served as the guest of honor; Capt. Ji Sang-hyeok, Acting Director of DAPA’s Ship Program Division; and Yoo Sang-cheol, head of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction’s naval shipbuilding division. The event included a project progress briefing, ship naming, commemorative speeches, and a ceremonial launch, followed by a traditional safe-voyage blessing.
The PKX-B Batch-II program will add a total of 18 new PKMRs to replace the aging PKM (Patrol Killer Medium) craft and operate alongside the Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessels (PKG) and the Batch-I PKMRs. The PKMR is a domestically designed and built platform. The construction contract was signed in 2022, followed by the steel-cutting ceremony in 2024 and keel-laying in 2025.
The PKMRs are 44 meters long and 7 meters wide, with a maximum speed of 40 knots. They are equipped with a 76 mm main gun, 12.7 mm machine guns, and 130 mm guided rockets, representing a significant improvement in firepower compared to the legacy Chamsuri-class PKM. Additionally, their sensor and combat systems have been upgraded, including improved surveillance radar, enhanced electro-optical tracking capabilities, a soft-kill system, and an upgraded combat management system.
Compared to the PKX-B Batch-I, the Batch-II added small but critical upgrades that can improve the vessels’ combat effectiveness and operational capability.
The fire-control and launch functions of the 12.7 mm RCWS and the 130 mm guided rocket system are integrated into the combat system.
The vessel is equipped with an improved anti-jamming electronic warfare (EW) system and the improved SPS-560K 3D air-surveillance radar, with resistance to frequency interference.
The SAQ-560K Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), responsible for targeting of the PKMR’s weapons, is equipped with an anti-icing function to ensure stable operation in harsh winter sea conditions.
In addition, although separate from the Batch-II upgrade itself, DAPA announced in May 2025 that the PKMR’s existing soft-kill system, MASS had undergone a performance enhancement. The upgrade introduced an offboard corner reflector to improve decoy effectiveness against modern anti-ship missiles. Following successful live-fire trials at sea, DAPA stated that the enhancement significantly strengthens the ROK Navy’s operational survivability. As the PKMR class continues to expand with Batch-II units, the integration of this improved soft-kill capability is expected to further enhance the platform’s overall survivability.
Following sea trials, the four PKX-B Batch-II vessels are scheduled to be delivered to the ROK Navy between August and November 2026. They will then undergo a force integration process before entering full operational service.
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