HJ Heavy Industries announced on December 8 that it held a unified launching ceremony for four new-generation PKMR patrol boats, strengthening the Republic of Korea Navy’s coastal defense capabilities. These vessels are the first batch built under the Navy’s PKX-B Batch-II program awarded in 2022.
The ceremony took place at the company’s Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan with key attendees including Rear Admiral Ahn Sang-min, Commander of the Naval Logistics Command; Navy Captain Ji Sang-hyuck, acting head of DAPA’s Naval Ship Program Department; and Chai Young-joo, Head of the Naval Ship Center at the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. HJ Heavy Industries CEO Yoo Sang-chul and Navy personnel were also present.
The PKMR (Patrol-boat Killer Medium Rocket) replaces aging Chamsuri-class vessels and performs coastal warfare missions with improved firepower, survivability, and mission responsiveness. The boats are equipped with advanced combat systems, 130mm guided rockets, electronic warfare equipment, and anti-missile countermeasures. Their water-jet propulsion enables maneuverability in shallow waters, while enhanced ballistic protection, shock-resistant structure, fire-resistant bulkheads, and stealth shaping maximize survivability.
HJ Heavy Industries has already delivered all 16 vessels ordered under the PKX-B Batch-I program and has successfully secured all 12 vessels for Batch-II to date. With 50 years of expertise in patrol boat construction—starting from Korea’s first domestically built fast attack craft in 1972—the company designed and built the newly launched vessels entirely with its own technology.
An HJ Heavy Industries official stated, “Since launching our first PKMR in 2016, we have successfully produced a total of 20 next-generation patrol boats. As a leading naval defense shipbuilder, we will continue contributing to the advancement of Korea’s defense industry and the global competitiveness of K-Defense.”
