'Naval Mobile Fleet Established for North Korea Missile Response and Maritime Traffic Protection'

Composed of Three Aegis Destroyers and Others...
A Total of 14 Main Warships

The Naval Mobile Fleet Command, the core unit of the sea-based Korean-style three-axis system, was established on the 1st.

The Navy announced on the 2nd that the Mobile Fleet inauguration ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on the 3rd at the Navy Jeju Base, presided over by Navy Chief of Staff Yang Yong-mo. The launch of the Mobile Fleet is the first in 36 years since the need for a 'Strategic Mobile Fleet' was raised in 1989.

The concept of the Mobile Fleet was proposed in 1989, and in 1995, then Navy Chief of Staff Ahn Byung-tae declared in his inaugural speech the preparation for building an ocean-going navy equipped with a Mobile Fleet system. The plan was officially approved the following year by President Kim Young-sam as part of the 'Navy Force Improvement Plan,' which included the Mobile Fleet.

Accordingly, the Navy introduced Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers and Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers, established the 7th Mobile Task Force in February 2010 as the precursor to the Mobile Fleet Command, and finalized the establishment of the Mobile Fleet through a military meeting resolution in November 2024.

Composed of Three Mobile Squadrons Including Aegis Destroyers, One Mobile Logistics Squadron, and One Base Squadron

The Mobile Fleet is commanded by a brigadier general-level commander and consists of three mobile squadrons made up of Sejong the Great-class (7,600t) and Jeongjo the Great-class (8,200t) Aegis destroyers, as well as Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class (4,400t) destroyers. It also includes one mobile logistics squadron composed of support ships such as Soyang, and one base squadron responsible for land base defense and support missions. In the future, destroyers (KDDX) equipped with domestically developed multifunctional phased array radars and combat systems are expected to be assigned to the Mobile Fleet.

Compared to the scale at the time of the 7th Mobile Task Force's establishment in 2010, one additional mobile squadron and one mobile logistics squadron have been added, and the number of main vessels has doubled from seven to fourteen. Notably, the Mobile Fleet symbolizes strong combat power with excellent mobility and operational capability, capable of early detection of surface, underwater, and air targets at long range, and striking with long-range anti-ship, anti-air, anti-submarine, and land attack weapons.

Tasks Include Responding to North Korea's Nuclear and Missile Threats and Protecting Maritime Traffic Routes

Unlike the regional fleets (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets) that oversee the East, West, and South Seas, the Mobile Fleet is a naval mobile unit that performs assigned missions in necessary maritime areas according to its tasks and roles. The Mobile Fleet's main missions include: ▲ serving as the core force in the sea-based 'Korean-style three-axis system' operation to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats ▲ protecting the Republic of Korea's maritime rights and interests through mobile unit operations for surveillance and response around the Korean Peninsula ▲ safeguarding vital maritime traffic routes and participating in overseas dispatch missions such as the Cheonghae Unit deployment ▲ achieving maritime superiority by deploying overwhelming forces to mission areas such as the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in emergencies ▲ conducting ballistic missile operations by early detection and interception of North Korean ballistic missiles ▲ and performing precision strikes on key targets based on long-range strike capabilities.

While the 7th Mobile Task Force has mainly provided power for missions such as ballistic missile operations and Cheonghae Unit dispatch, the Mobile Fleet enables more efficient force utilization and proactive operational control, allowing for effective mission execution, according to the Navy. Prior to the establishment of the Mobile Fleet, the Navy enhanced operational efficiency by establishing the Submarine Command in 2015 for theater underwater operations and the Air Command in 2022 for air operations.

Major General Kim In-ho, who will serve as the first commander of the Mobile Fleet, stated, "The Mobile Fleet is a core mobile unit that protects the sovereignty and maritime rights of the Republic of Korea wherever the people need it." He added, "We will develop it into a unit that guarantees victory with overwhelming power in emergencies and supports government policies with strength."