The integrated launch ceremony for the new PKMR fast attack craft—Hull Numbers 1 to 4 (Chamsuri-231, 232, 233, and 235)—is underway on December 8 at HJ Shipbuilding & Construction in Busan. Designed and built domestically, the 230-ton class PKMR (Patrol Boat Killer Medium Rocket) fast attack craft measures 45 meters in length and has been under construction since a contract was signed with HJ Shipbuilding in December 2022. The ships proceeded through steel-cutting in 2024 and keel-laying in January 2025 before reaching the launch stage this week.

More than 70 officials from the Navy, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and HJ Shipbuilding attended the ceremony, including Rear Adm. Ahn Sang-min, Commander of the Naval Logistics Command, who served as the guest of honor. The event included a project briefing, christening, congratulatory remarks, and a traditional launch ritual.

Following naval tradition, Rear Adm. Ahn’s spouse, Kim Myung-a, cut the ceremonial launch line attached to the vessel — symbolizing the cutting of an umbilical cord and the “birth” of a new warship. The ceremony concluded with the breaking of champagne over the hull to wish safe voyages.

Enhanced Combat Systems and Electronic Warfare Capabilities
The PKMR Batch-I and Batch-II series represent a significant upgrade over the older 150-ton PKM Chamsuri-class. The new fast attack craft are equipped with a 130mm guided rocket launcher, search radar, electro-optical tracking system, and a 76mm naval gun, providing expanded firepower and improved coastal defense capability.

Batch-II introduces several key advancements over Batch-I, including: Integrated fire-control and launch operations for the 130mm guided rocket and 12.7mm remote weapon station, Improved electronic warfare suite, including enhanced anti-jamming capabilities, Upgraded combat system and user interface enhancements.

These improvements enable the vessels to perform surveillance, interdiction, and rapid-response missions along Korea’s northern and western coastal regions, countering infiltrations and hostile fast-moving threats.

ROK Navy and DAPA Highlight Strengthened Coastal Defense
“This state-of-the-art fast attack craft, reborn through our own technological expertise, will flawlessly carry out its missions with advanced combat systems, precision electronic warfare equipment, and modern decoy capabilities,” Rear Adm. Ahn said in his congratulatory speech. DAPA’s acting director for the Naval Ship Program, Col. Ji Sang-hyuk, noted, “These small but powerful vessels will replace the legacy fast attack craft that defended the Northern Limit Line during the Yeonpyeong naval battles, and they will significantly reinforce the security of South Korea’s coastal waters.”

Scheduled for Navy Delivery Starting August 2026

The four newly launched PKMR Batch-II vessels will undergo sea trials before being delivered to the Navy between August and November 2026. After completing operational testing and evaluation, they will be fully deployed for frontline missions.

The simultaneous launch of the first four Batch-II fast attack craft marks a major milestone in the modernization of ROK Armed Force's coastal defense fleet and underscores the Navy’s continued investment in agile, high-performance maritime security platforms.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk