New Guided Missile Frigate Fitting Out at Nampo
A new Maxar satellite image, acquired on April 6, 2025, provides the closest look to date of perhaps the largest North Korean-manufactured warship, a new naval guided missile frigate (FFG) at the Nampo Navy Shipyard’s “fitting out” dock.1
After a vessel is launched, it undergoes a “fitting out” process in which internal construction is completed, equipment is installed, and supplies are loaded before being handed over to the Navy. The new FFG is seen positioned within a 120-meter-long floating dry dock and mostly covered with netting to limit overhead visibility.
The floating dry dock is positioned alongside the shipyard’s recently updated fitting-out dock with two tower cranes and supplies and parts lined up to support the vessel’s fitting-out. While the netting prevents detailed measurement, the FFG is approximately 140 meters long, making it the largest warship manufactured in North Korea. The estimated length and shape of the superstructure suggest that it is the vessel Kim Jong-un visited in early March 2025.2
It is unclear whether the new vessel is one of the two helicopter frigates (FFH) that North Korea declared it was manufacturing to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2023. If the frigate is equipped with helicopters, it would only be the second time the Korean People’s Navy has done so.3
References
- If the vessel carries both missiles and a helicopter, it would be more accurately designated as a guided missile frigate helicopter frigate (FFGH) ↩
- “Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Major Shipyards to Learn about Warship Building,” Rodong Sinmun, March 8, 2025. ↩
- The first is the Soho Class guided missile frigate (FFGH), which was taken out of service years ago. ↩