Busan: The arms procurement agency has delivered the first vessel of the upgraded fast attack patrol ship program to the Navy, aiming to enhance naval combat capabilities defending the western maritime border with North Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the lead vessel of the Geomdoksuri-B class Patrol Killer Medium Rocket (PKMR) Batch-II was handed over to the Navy during a ceremony held at a shipyard in the southeastern port city of Busan, as announced by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). "Geomdoksuri" means golden eagle in Korean.

The Geomdoksuri-B class patrol ships are set to replace the older Chamsuri-class patrol vessels. DAPA initiated the program in 2022 and has been conducting test runs since last year.

The upgraded patrol ship is equipped with advanced combat systems, including a 130-millimeter guided rocket system and a 12.7-mm remote-controlled weapon station. It also features an upgraded anti-jamming system designed to boost electronic warfare capabilities.

The lead Geomdoksuri vessel will undergo procedures for operational service before being deployed near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with North Korea in the Yellow Sea, to safeguard South Korea's territorial waters, as stated by DAPA.