MADEX 2019: DSME Lifts Veil On New DW2000L Light Frigate Design

[The Ronin]

The South Korean shipyard DSME today lifted the veil on its new DW200L light frigate design at this year’s MADEX exhibition, being held from October 22-25 in Busan (South Korea).
Nathan Gain 22 Oct 2019

DSME’s new multipurpose light frigate project features a unique flexible modularity design which allows the customer to easily build a tailor-made solution. « In the rapidly changing naval environment, it is only when you can cope with every tasks that you can win, » explains DSME. The Korean shipmaker is proposing four optimized models to meet the customer specifications in term of speed, range, length, crew and mission:

• A 105m-long variant powered by a CODAD propulsion system allowing a maximum speed of 29 knots. She accommodates a crew of 108.
• A 100m-long variant powered by a CODAD propulsion system allowing a maximum speed of 27 knots. She accommodates a crew of 90.
• A 100m-long variant powered by two diesel-electric propulsion systems allowing a maximum speed of 24.5 knots. She accommodates a crew of 108.
• A shorter 96.6m-long variant also powered by two diesel-electric propulsion systems allowing a maximum speed of 24.5 knots. She accommodates a crew of 90.

DSME only disclosed detailed specifications for the 100 meters / 90 strong crew variant, which would have a displacement of 2,800 tons and an endurance of around 5,000 nm at 15 knots.

Besides accommodation and propulsion, each of the variant is fitted with a stern multi-mission bay in which the customer may install four different modules receiving either a RHIB and a containerized Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, a RHIB and a multi-purpose container, a Towed Array Sonar, or finally a containerized UUV and a multi-purpose container. A fifth mission module is fitted amidship for the storage and launch of up to two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.


The DW2000L Mission Modularity concept proposed by DSME allows the customer to choose its module from a wide range of weapons and sensors, such as the NS200 Long Range AESA Naval Radar designed by Thales Nederland or the 20 mm Narwhal naval gun from Nexter Systems. The same philosophy has been preferred for the main armament, which may consists of 40 to 127 mm naval gun systems. For the vertical launch system, the customer can choose between an 8-cell or a 16-cell system installed behind the naval gun. Different packages and configurations provides the Navies with all the necessary mission systems required to perform Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Air Warfare and Anti-Submarine Warfare.


Thanks to an extremely modular design, the New Light Frigate allows easy maintenance and future upgrades, such as a more powerful electrical power and a larger tank capability, says DSME. The possibility of software upgrades will ensure that the New Light Frigate meets the customer’s future operational requirements.

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