[Defense Column] The One-Shot One-Kill Guided Rocket of the Chamsuri-class Patrol Boat Is

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] The new-class Chamsuri (PKMR), currently being commissioned by the Navy, is a state-of-the-art high-speed patrol boat that replaces the existing Chamsuri. Like the original Chamsuri, it is deployed to the Navy's regional fleets, the 1st and 2nd Fleets, tasked with intercepting North Korean naval vessels in adjacent waters based on the Northern Limit Line between South Korea and North Korea. During peacetime, it also protects South Korean fishing boats.

The Navy's high-speed patrol boats are a core component of coastal defense capabilities. After the Korean War, North Korea used spy boats to infiltrate numerous spies into the South. Particularly from the 1960s onward, North Korean spy boats became larger, equipped with high-performance engines for faster navigation, and were more heavily armed. To counter these spy boats, the Navy focused on high-speed patrol boats known for their agile maneuverability. The era of domestically produced high-speed patrol boats began in 1972, leading to rapid growth in this fleet. The mainstay high-speed patrol boats of the past Navy were the Chamsuri class, with over 100 vessels built between 1976 and 1993.

The Chamsuri patrol boats carried out various operations including anti-espionage missions, Northern Limit Line patrols, fisheries monitoring, and harbor defense. After the introduction of the Chamsuri, spy boat infiltrations nearly ceased. In the 1st and 2nd Battles of Yeonpyeong and the Battle of Daecheong, they sank North Korean patrol boats after fierce combat. However, during the 2nd Battle of Yeonpyeong, one Chamsuri patrol boat was sunk in combat with North Korean forces, resulting in the deaths of six crew members. Consequently, from the early 2000s, development began on a new high-speed patrol boat with enhanced capabilities to more effectively engage enemy vessels.

The newly developed Chamsuri-class patrol boat uses a waterjet propulsion system similar to the Navy’s Yun Youngha-class guided missile patrol boats. Unlike propeller-driven systems, it sucks in and expels water, enabling operations in shallow waters with fishing nets. Its maximum speed reaches 40 knots (74 km/h). Its main armaments include 130mm guided rockets, a 76mm naval gun, and a 12.7mm remote-controlled firing system, significantly enhancing firepower compared to the original Chamsuri, which was equipped only with 40mm and 20mm naval guns. Additionally, it is equipped with electronic warfare equipment and an anti-guided missile decoy system, providing defense capabilities against enemy anti-ship missile attacks.

The 130mm guided rocket, a weapons system first installed in naval history worldwide, is a precision-guided munition developed by the Agency for Defense Development. It can accurately strike North Korean hovercraft, patrol boats, or landing craft maneuvering at high speed from up to 20 km away. It also employs a fire-and-forget guidance system, allowing simultaneous attacks on multiple vessels. The new Chamsuri, utilizing automated weapon systems, operates with about 20 crew members?10 fewer than the original Chamsuri. The new Chamsuri patrol boats entered service with the Navy in November 2017, with up to the eighth vessel delivered.