PKX-B (Patrol Killer Experimental B)
PKMR Patrol-boat Killer Medium Rocket - Chamsuri

The RoKN must be prepared to execute multiple complex missions before, during, and after the outbreak of general hostilities with North Korea, such as countering the KPN’s East and West Fleets, which operate naval assets including nearly 300 fast attack craft with some of these missile-carrying platforms. The service will benefit from 18 new PKX-A missile boats, as well as 16 PKX-B Batch 1 and 18 PKX-B Batch 2 patrol boats, which are replacing its Chamsuri and Gumdoksuri-class patrol vessels.

On October 30, 2017, the South Korean Navy was handed over the lead rocket and artillery boat of the new type PKX-B (Patrol Killer Experimental B) PKMR 211 Chamsuri-211. The boat was built by the enterprise of the South Korean Shipbuilding Corporation Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) in Busan and will be the lead in a large series.

The PKX-B was specifically designed to counter North Korean fast swarming craft. The PKX-B variant includes a 130 mm guided rocket launcher at the stern. The 12-canister 130 mm guided rocket launcher can hit targets between 3–20 km (1.9–12.4 mi; 1.6–10.8 nmi, and according to some information - up to 36 km) using a rocket weighing 80 kg (180 lb) with an 8 kg (18 lb) warhead. Rockets have GPS/INS midcourse guidance with data uplink and terminal IIR homing, and three can be fired simultaneously. The system was jointly developed by LIG Nex1 (lead contractor), Hanwha and Doosan DST based on K33 long-range unguided rockets from the famous South Korean 130-mm ground-based MLRS K136, the missiles use GPS correction and an infrared guidance system in the final segment.

The first vessel was launched in July 2016 and will be commissioned in late 2017; all four ships in the first batch will be delivered by the end of 2019. A contract was awarded to Hanjin Heavy Industries for ships 5-8 in June 2017, which are scheduled to be delivered after 2020. The contract for ships 9-12 was to be awarded in early 2018. South Korea is continuing to modernise its patrol boat fleet via an approximately $225 million contract with Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC), according to an announcement from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on 28 June. The agreement encompassed four additional 210t Gumdoksuri-class fast attack craft.

Unlike RKH-A, the boat RKH-B has a full displacement of about 300 tons (instead of 570 tons), length 44.7 m, width 7 m and draft 2.4 m (instead of length 63 m, width 9 m and draft 3 m at RCCH-A). Combined diesel-gas turbine power plant type CODAG boats RKH-B includes one (instead of two at RKX-A) afterburner gas turbine General Electric LM 500 with a capacity of 6000 hp (Hanwha Techwin assemblies) and two Caterpillar Marine C32 mid-flight diesel engines that drive three Jet Power water jets (the latter are manufactured under license from the South Korean company Krosys). The power plant consists of two diesel generators Caterpillar Marine C9. Full speed is 41 knots.

A feature of the PKX-B boat is its weaponry. Unlike PKX-A type boats, a PKX-B type boat does not carry anti-ship missiles. Arms of the RKH-B type are made up of a 76-mm universal automatic gun mount manufactured by Hunydai WIA, two remote-controlled Hanwha installations with 12.7-mm K6 machine guns, and a 12-gun launcher of 130-mm adjustable missiles with a stern firing range up to 20 km (and according to some information - up to 36 km). The latter system was jointly developed by LIG Nex1 (lead contractor), Hanwha and Doosan DST based on K33 long-range unguided rockets from the famous South Korean 130-mm ground-based MLRS K136, the missiles use GPS correction and an infrared guidance system in the final segment.

The PKX-B is equipped with Hanwha (previously Samsung Thales) ASBUs, STX RadarSys SPS-100K radars and LIG Nex1 SPS-540K radars, the Saab CEROS 200 fire control radars, the Hanwha electronic-passive detection system, the EBX LIG Nex1 Sonata SLQ- 200 (V) K and S & T Dynamics KDAGAIE Mk 2.

South Korean Navy plans extend to building at least 34 PKX-B type boats. In June 2015, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) procurement agency of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea issued a HHIC contract for the construction of the first four boats of this type (with an option for 12 more), the lead one of which is now delivered, and the delivery of the other three ( PKMR 212, 213 and 215 ) is expected by the end of 2019. In July 2017, the HHIC received a contract for the following four boats ( PKMR 216 - PKMR 219) with delivery starting from 2020, and in the beginning of 2018, the HHIC contract for the four following boats is expected.

In June 2015, Caterpillar Marine confirmed receipt of a contract for the supply of C32 and C9 diesel engines to South Korea for “16 boats of new construction”. In turn, General Electric Corp. announced at the same time that it would supply LM 500 turbine kits and gearboxes for two series of a total of 34 boats of the PKH-B type. The turbines are assembled from the supplied kits by Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung Techwin).

LM500 gas turbines were selected to power the ROK Navy’s PKX-B patrol boat program. As of 2013 the potential gas turbine propulsion system value over the life of the 34-ship PKX-B program is approximately $400 million. The Korean naval, offshore and merchant, shipbuilding industry, the largest and most important in the world, has long since recognized the benefit that GE’s experience and technology can deliver—partnering together for 30 years. GE’s LM500 gas turbines will power the Republic of Korea Navy’s PKX-B patrol boat program. The LM500s will be manufactured in-country by Samsung Techwin. The PKX-B program is planned for 34 ships and each ship uses two LM500s. The existing 18 ships in the PKX-A program also are powered by two LM500s per ship.

The LM500s, rated at approximately 6,017 shaft horsepower (shp), will be configured into a combined diesel and gas turbine arrangement (CODAG) with two diesels. The PKX-A program is also powered by GE LM500 gas turbines. The potential gas turbine propulsion system value over the life of the 34-ship PKX-B program is approximately $400 million. The program will be conducted in two phases. Phase one is for 16 shipsets. After completion, Phase II will proceed according to ROK government procedures.

GE’s LM500 marine gas turbines already power the ROK Navy’s PKX-A patrol boats. Each of the PKX-A boats uses two LM500 gas turbines, rated at approximately 5,600 shp, in a CODAG configuration. The first PKX Yoon Young-ha was launched at Hanjin Heavy Industries’ Busan, ROK, shipyard. The LM500 gas turbines are manufactured in-country by Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung Techwin), at its Changwon, Korea, facility. To date, Hanwha Techwin -- a GE Marine System Supplier -- has provided 36 LM500 gas turbine modules for the PKX program.

Continuing PKX-A program capabilities into the PKX-B program, Hanwha Techwin will locally manufacture selected parts of the LM500s, and assemble and test the completed engines. GE will provide support of the gas turbine, control, and reduction gear system to Hanwha Techwin, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction shipyard, and the ROK Navy throughout installation, sea trials and commissioning. The LM500 is derived from GE’s TF34/CF34 turbofan aircraft engines, and has 90% commonality with the CF34 engine that powers the popular CRJ100/200 regional jet with more than 14 million hours of operation. The simple cycle LM500 is a two-shaft gas turbine consisting of a gas generator, a free power turbine and cold end drive capabilities.

The installation of a guided rocket weapon system on a small attack speedboat is rare in the world. It seems that the South Korean military regards it as a weapon for the North Korean navy and artillery. As for its effect, it still has to Look at the performance in the actual combat.