Babcock cemented its position in the South Korea’s naval market when it was earlier selected to provide its weapons handling and launch system for KSS-III submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). Deliveries of these systems are ongoing, as production of KSS-III Batch II boats proceeds, plus foreign exports for these submarines beckon too.
Speaking to Naval News at MADEX 2025, a naval exhibition held in Busan from 28-30 May, Brian Braid explained that the weapons handling and launch system is a critical part of submarines, for it launches and stores torpedoes in the submarine’s bow.
Braid, who is Managing Director, Effectors, Mission Systems at Babcock International Group, said his company’s system uses an air turbine pump-driven positive discharge rather than traditional water rams. The result is that the firing valve is configurable and programmable according to what weapon is being fired through the torpedo tubes, whether a mine, torpedo or missile.
Babcock said such a system “has significant advantages in terms of launch flexibility, integration, mass, noise, volume and economy of operating air”. An air turbine pump is quieter, and it does not require mechanical re-cocking either.
The ROKN has three Dosan Ahn Changho-class KSS-III Batch I submarines in service, commissioned from 2021-24, while the first-of-class in Batch II is slated to enter service next year. Babcock is therefore supplying six weapons handling and launch systems to South Korea for integration into these boats.
Another important consideration is that Babcock has signed teaming agreements with Hanwha Ocean to cooperate on foreign submarine sales campaigns. In November 2024, for instance, the two sides signed a strategic cooperation agreement to collaborate on opportunities in the global naval market.
“This agreement outlines our joint aim to deepen cooperation in major global naval procurement projects, including the Polish Orka submarine programme and the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, leveraging our respective strengths to provide tailored solutions for clients throughout the entire lifecycle of naval platforms, from acquisition to operation.”
Babcock press release
If Hanwha is successful in these or other submarine programmes, Babcock’s weapons handling and launch systems would presumably form part of the export platforms.
Babcock works with South Korean partners to deliver its weapons systems too. For instance, Hanwha manufactures the torpedo tubes, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a subcontractor for various assemblies, and Babcock Korea makes the weapon embarkation system to load torpedoes into the submarine. Meanwhile, Babcock makes the air turbines in the UK.
Although Braid said Babcock’s weapons handling and launch system is agnostic in terms of submarine platforms, considerable engineering inputs and work is required to make it fit into various submarine types.
The same systems are also used on Royal Navy Astute-class submarines and will be used on the future Dreadnought class too, plus Navantia’s S-80 employs them as well.
