South Korean Frigate ROKS Daejeon Wins Top Gunnery Prize at RIMPAC

Seoul, Aug. 2026 : South Korea’s 3,100-ton frigate ROKS Daejeon has secured the top position in a live-fire gunnery competition held during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, marking the South Korean Navy’s first victory in the contest in 16 years.

The warship recorded the highest score among 13 vessels from 10 countries that participated in the Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) Rodeo competition conducted in Hawaii last month, according to the South Korean Navy.

The competition was held on July 12, while the results were announced during the closing ceremony of the biennial RIMPAC exercise on Friday.

The latest achievement marks the first time since 2010 that a South Korean warship has won the prestigious gunnery contest. The previous South Korean winner was the Navy’s ROKS King Sejong the Great, which claimed the title 16 years ago.

Launched in 1971, RIMPAC is one of the world’s largest multinational maritime military exercises. Held every two years, the exercise aims to strengthen cooperation among participating navies, improve interoperability and enhance their ability to respond to maritime security challenges and protect vital sea lanes.

The success of ROKS Daejeon highlights the South Korean Navy’s growing operational capabilities and its ability to conduct complex naval operations alongside partner countries.

South Korea also achieved another significant milestone during this year’s RIMPAC by assuming command of the Combined Force Maritime Component. This made South Korea the first Asian nation and only the fourth non-US participant to take up the command role.

The exercise was conducted in and around the Hawaiian Islands and brought together naval forces from several countries for joint training, maritime operations and combat-readiness drills.

South Korea’s dual achievements at RIMPAC — winning the gunnery competition and commanding the Combined Force Maritime Component — underline Seoul’s expanding role in multinational maritime security cooperation and the broader Indo-Pacific security framework.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)