Myeongnyang-class cruiser

KHMS Jinju
Class overview
Builders:	Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.
Operators:	Royal Joseon Navy
Preceded by:	Salsu-class
Built:	2015-2031
In commission:	2017-Present
Planned:	15
Completed:	12
Cancelled:	3
Active:	12
General characteristics
Type:	Heavy guided-missile cruiser
Displacement:	28,040 tons full load
Length:	251 m (823 ft 6 in)
Beam:	27.8 m (91 ft 2 in)
Draft:	8.12 m (26 ft 8 in)
Propulsion:	CODLAG/CODLOG KH&NP 310MW thermal pressurized water reactors 4 × shafts 150,000 shp (110,000 kW) produced power
Speed:	exceeds 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) (CODLAG/CODLOG) Unlimited (Nuclear reactors)
Endurance:	Depends on supply situation
Complement:	360
Sensors and processing systems:	S/X-Band AESA radar AN/SPG-62 fire control radar DSQS-21BZ-M hull-mounted sonar SAQ-540K Electro-optical targeting system(EOTS) SAQ-600K Infrared search and track(IRST)
Electronic warfare & decoys:	LIG Nex1 SLQ-200K Sonata electronic warfare suite
Armament:	1 × 155 mm (6.1 in) naval gun 4 × 20mm Block 1B Phalanx CIWS with stealth turrets 3 x THEL Turrets 2 × 25mm remote-control weapon system 2 × mounts for K6 .50 caliber machine guns 64 cells × Mk 41 VLS (64 missiles) 44 cells × Mk 57 PVLS (44-176 missiles)
Armor:	Confidential
Aircraft carried:	2 × Anti-Submarine helicopters 2 × Unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV)
Aviation facilities:	Hangar and helipad

The Myeongnyang-class cruiser is a cruiser operated by Royal Joseon Navy. It was planned for 15 ships, and it started to be built in 2018, so a total of 12 ships have been built and are currently active.

The Myeongnyang-class cruiser was designed to conduct naval operations, either alone or in the formation of small maneuver groups. It is also specialized in launching large-scale missile strikes against enemy fleets or ground military installations. Although the practicality of the ship has been questioned due to its role overlapping with that of aircraft carriers, the high firepower of a single ship of the Myeongnyang-class and the stealth design that dramatically reduces its RCS justify its high tactical and strategic importance.

History

When the Svetvostok Navy launched the Lim Se-Kyung class cruiser in the early 2000s, the Royal Joseon Navy began a naval modernization project to come up with countermeasures. This is because, except for aircraft carriers, no combat ships had stronger firepower than the Lim Se-Kyung class in the Royal Joseon Navy at the time. While the Salsu-class guided-missile cruiser contributed to maintaining the gap in the naval power of the two countries and expanding the air defense capabilities of the Joseon Navy, the powerful anti-ship firepower of the Lim Se-Kyung class still brought many concerns to the Joseon Navy.

The Joseon Navy has begun the development of new ships that have strong anti-ship and anti-aircraft firepower while also having sufficient deterrence against other countries' navies as well as Svetvostok. For the design of strong and innovative ships, not only the navy but also the Agency for Defense Development(ADD) was involved in the design of the ships. At the time, tensions between the two countries were high due to the Battle of the Sari Sea between Joseon and Svetvostok, which resulted in the budget for the new cruiser being passed by a landslide within the National Assembly.

15 new cruisers were originally planned, but the budget for new cruisers was cut to 12 after the project took more time than expected and the Navy launched a new aircraft carrier project. The first ship of the Myeongnyang-class was launched in 2015 and deployed to the Navy in 2017.

Design

Stealth

According to the Royal Joseon Navy, despite being 40% larger than an Sejong the Great-class destroyer, the radar cross-section (RCS) is more akin to that of a fishing boat. The tumblehome hull and composite deckhouse reduce radar return. Overall, the destroyer's angular build makes it 50 times harder to spot on radar than an ordinary destroyer.

The acoustic signature is comparable to that of the Ahn Yongbok-class submarines. Water sleeting along the sides and passive cool air induction in the mack reduces infrared signature.

Radar

The Myeongnyang-class is equipped with a four-sided fixed AESA radar. This radar has functionality similar to those mounted on the Salsu-class or Sejong the Great-class, but consumes 10 percent less power. Also, Myeongnyang-class's radar can track 900 targets simultaneously and engage with 25 of them simultaneously. This is better performance than Salsu-class and Sejong the Great-class.

Myeongnyang-class's radar is available as X-Band and S-Band, allowing more accurate and clearer identification of targets with low RCS.

Armament

The Myeongnyang-class has Mk.41 VLS equipped with a total of 64 cells and Mk.57 PVLS equipped with a total of 44 cells. Mk.41 VLS can carry up to 64 standard missiles such as SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, and NGAM. Mk.57 PVLS can carry a larger missile or four standard missiles in one cell.

One 155 mm naval gun mounted on the rear of the ship functions as the only multi-purpose deck gun of the Myeongnyang-class. The 155 mm naval gun is mounted on a stealth-shaped turret and uses the Army's standard 155 mm shell. This is for the efficiency of military supplies, and Myeongnyang-class uses 155 mm long-range guided artillery shells of the Army with a range of over 150 km as ammunition.

All four Phalanx CIWS mounted on the Myeongnyang-class use stealth-shaped turret coats to reduce RCS.

Operators

Joseon

• Royal Joseon Armed Forces
  • Royal Joseon Navy