South Korea launched on Tuesday its second next-generation landing vessel with upgraded mobility that will be deployed for operations in 2017, the Navy said.
  

The second edition LST-II, the Cheonjabong, is 4,900 tons and capable of sailing up to 23 knots at full speed, with the service of 120 crew members, according to the Navy.
  

The vessel, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is capable of delivering about 300 fully armed landing forces and carrying landing boats, tanks and two helicopters, the Navy said.
  

The landing vessel is also equipped with a domestically developed combat system and command post for landing operations. The next-generation ship has higher mobility compared with the Navy's four landing vessels of the Go Jun Bong-class LST-1.
  

During peacetime, the new ship will carry out transport missions and shift to response operations in the event of conflicts, the Navy said.
  

The new vessel will undergo performance tests before being delivered to the Navy in late 2016. The Navy will deploy it for operations around March 2017 after integrating warfare capabilities into the ship.

Also on Tuesday, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said it has kicked off a procurement project to develop unmanned surface vehicles which will carry out shore surveillance and mine detection missions. (Yonhap)