North Korea Builds Its Largest Warship Equipped With Vertical Launch Systems For Missiles

North Korea has revealed its largest warship ever, currently being built at the Nampo Shipyard. The new vessel, still unnamed, is set to be the most advanced warship in the country’s fleet.

It is similar in size to a large modern frigate and will feature advanced technology like vertical launch systems (VLS) for missiles and phased-array radar, which have never been seen before in North Korean designs.

The warship was recently inspected by Kim Jong Un during its construction at the shipyard. While photos of the ship have been released, they are not dated.

The ship’s construction shows major progress, with the facility now covered by a permanent roof. Experts believe the ship’s size and design make it likely to be a destroyer, surpassing the older corvettes previously built by North Korea.

The new warship will likely be more than 100 meters (328 feet) long, with a beam of around 15 meters (50 feet). This makes it one-third wider than North Korea’s largest warships from the past.

The ship’s forward section seems to be designed to accommodate a VLS, which would allow it to launch different types of missiles, including surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles. This would give the ship more powerful weaponry options compared to North Korea’s previous vessels.

Another important feature is the addition of phased-array radar, which would help with surveillance and missile guidance, making the ship more effective in air defence.

The warship’s design also appears to include stealth features to reduce its radar signature, making it harder to detect by enemy radar systems.

North Korea has focused heavily on improving its naval capabilities in recent years. This warship could be part of North Korea’s Five-Year Plan, which aims to complete several new ships by 2026.

References: The War Zone, The Defense News

Source: Maritime Shipping News