North Korean Amnok-class patrol ships
The third ship of the Amnok Ave. at sea
North Korea is building state-of-the-art patrol ships for its navy, known by the unofficial foreign designation Amnok. By now in combat fleet two such pennants came in, and a third was recently shown. These guards carry artillery, torpedo and missile weapons, which allows them to solve a wide range of combat missions, incl. strategic nature.
According to some information…
In 2015-16 Two previously unknown ships were spotted off North Korean berths for the first time. Based on their size and visible equipment, they were classified as corvettes or frigates. In addition, an unofficial foreign designation Amnok appeared (“Amnok” is the second name of the Yalu River). The official designation of the project is still unknown.
According to foreign assumptions, the project of a new watchdog was developed at the end of the 2010s by the Shipbuilding Design Institute in Nampo. Not later than XNUMX, the laying of the lead ship took place, and in the coming years it was launched. Around the same time, the construction of the second building began, which took no more than two years.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a new frigate
Over the next few years, no later than the middle of the decade, two Amnoks were completed at the pier, tested and accepted into the Navy. It is known that in 2014, the DPRK registered two new frigates with the International Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) of the International Maritime Organization. Probably, under the tactical numbers FFH-1 and FFH-2, it was precisely the ships of recent construction that were hiding.
In the recent past, foreign intelligence and specialized press reported on the possible construction of a new type of patrol / frigates. This information corresponded to reality and recently received confirmation, and the most striking.
Construction continues
In June, North Korea registered two more future pennants with GISIS, the frigates FFH-3 and FFH-4. According to the information provided, they will enter service before the end of 2026. The submitted application showed that the DPRK continues to build new patrol ships / frigates - according to the already known Amnok project or a completely new one.
Recently the situation has cleared up. On August 21, the Korean Central News Agency announced a test launch of a new sea-launched strategic cruise missile. The event was attended by the head of state Kim Jong-un and the command of the Navy.
The carrier of an experimental missile of a new type was the Amnok-type guard with tail number 661. Previously, this ship did not appear in official reports, and nothing was known about its existence. Apparently, this building was built only recently, and now it is undergoing sea and firing tests. At the same time, with its help, the newest weapon Korean navy.
According to the TsTAK, the ship "661" should start the maritime patrol service. It is also reported that the purpose of the exercises was to re-confirm the combat functions of the ship and its weapons. From this we can conclude that the new guard has already passed the necessary tests and is preparing to enter service.
Then we should expect the appearance and acceptance into service of another ship of the same type, which is indicated by a recent application to GISIS. It is probably already under construction and will be ready no later than 2025-26. Whether the construction of Amnoks will continue in the future is still unknown. The DPRK traditionally does not disclose its plans, and new ships will become known no earlier than their completion and testing.
Multipurpose ship
Judging by the visible features and equipment, the Amnok-type patrol aircraft is intended for patrolling in the near and far sea zones. He must monitor the situation in the air, on the water and, probably, under water, as well as attack the detected targets. To do this, there are artillery and missile systems for various purposes, torpedoes and a helicopter on board.
The exact performance characteristics of the frigates are unknown. The length of such a ship is estimated at 77-80 m, which makes it the largest in its class in the DPRK Navy. Displacement - about 1500 tons. The ship's hull has traditional contours, giving high performance on the high seas. Used "inconspicuous" superstructure, coupled with the sides of the hull and having a minimum of prominent elements.
Launch of the Khvasar-2 cruise missile
There is no information about the ship's energy systems. Apparently, a diesel plant is used, which combines sufficient technical and operational characteristics. Running parameters can be at the level of other modern frigates and corvettes.
"Amnok" has the necessary set of electronic weapons. On the mast, antennas of several radars are visible - navigation, target search and weapon control stations, etc. In the underwater part of the hull, there should be a sonar system that ensures the use of anti-submarine weapons. Apparently, the ship has a modern digital combat information and control system that combines individual tools and components.
Armament complex
Despite the limited size and displacement, the Amnok-class patrol ships carry a fairly large set of weapons. There are machine-gun, artillery and rocket systems for various purposes. The presence of mine-torpedo weapons is assumed, but not confirmed.
On the deck in front of the superstructure, there is the “main caliber” of artillery - a pedestal installation with a large-caliber gun, presumably 100 mm. The gun has a shield cover and is serviced directly by the crew. At the corners of the front of the superstructure are two installations with 14,5-mm machine guns. At the stern of the ship, on the deck and superstructure, there are two machine guns of the Russian AK-630 type.
Behind the 100-mm guns are four five-barreled anti-submarine bombers. Shooting is carried out only forward with the possibility of aiming horizontally. According to some reports, the frigate may have a pair of 533-mm torpedo tubes in the hatches on the sides. However, the existence of such weapons has not yet been confirmed.
On the aft part of the superstructure there is a short-range anti-aircraft missile system using missiles of the serial FN-6 MANPADS. Ready-to-use ammunition - 6 missiles in containers on a mobile launcher.
On the sides of the superstructure, there are large hatches with sliding covers, behind which are two quad launchers of strike missile systems. Earlier it was reported that the Amnok ships can carry up to 8 KN-19 anti-ship missiles - the Korean version of the Russian Kh-35 product. In recent tests, the 661 watchdog launched a new type of cruise missile. It is assumed that this is a ship-based modification of the land-based Khvasar-2, capable of hitting stationary targets at ranges up to 2 km.
Fleet potential
Thus, the North Korean Amnok-class frigates are quite modern ships and have fairly wide combat capabilities. Their strengths include the presence of various means of detection and a remarkable range of airborne weapons. With standard means, the ship can detect air, surface or underwater targets and hit them. In addition, now there is the possibility of attacking remote ground targets.
However, so far the DPRK Navy has only two ships of the Amnok project, and the third, apparently, is only being tested. Judging by the known information, another one may be under construction. The formation of the entire "flotilla" will be completed in a few years. In addition, in the future they can start building new Amnoks or develop an improved ship of the same class.
Regardless of the available and planned number, the Amnok-class patrol ships show that the DPRK does not give up its intention to modernize its navy and maintain its capabilities at the highest achievable level. In addition, new types of weapons with certain advantages will be introduced, which should positively affect both individual ships and the fleet as a whole.
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