South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a Kick-off Meeting at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard on January 31 and started construction of the third and final KSS-III Batch-II submarine. The event followed the award of a contract for the construction of the third submarine in the program to Hanwha Ocean in December 2023,
For the record, the first two submarines of the Batch I were built by DSME (now known as Hanwha Ocean) while the third one was built by HD HHI.
The launch meeting was attended by related organizations such as the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ), as well as Hanwha Ocean, to check the schedule, design, and production plans for localization.
In particular, officials are said to have actively sought the possibility of a submarine made with domestic technology entering the global market.
The KSS-III Batch-II submarine project, a key underwater Kill Chain power, began in July 2016 and is under construction after basic and detailed design, respectively, starting construction of the leading ship in May 2021 and the second ship in December 2021.
The KSS-III Batch-II submarine is larger and heavier than the KSS-III Batch-I delivered to the ROK Navy. It is equipped with a improved combat system, sonar system and target processing performance.
In addition, the latest noise reduction technology has been expanded to secure higher covertness and survival, and the world’s second-largest lithium-ion battery is installed to significantly improve underwater operation persistence.
Choi Sang Deok, Deputy Director of DAPA Korea Submarine Project Director General says,
“The launch of the construction of the third KSS-III Batch-II is significant in that it contributes to the national economy, not only by securing key military capabilities, but also by enhancing the export competitiveness of domestic defense companies and creating jobs.”
“The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) will continue to do its best to build the world’s best submarines for a strong defense.”
Han Kyung ho, head of the Future Power Project Division of the DAPA says,
“Today’s launch of the construction of the third KSS-III Batch-II is very significant in that it contributes to the national economy by securing the core power of the Korean military, improving the export competitiveness of domestic defense companies, and creating jobs,” he said. “We will do our best to build the world’s best submarine for a strong defense.”
Ship No. 3 will be completed by 2029 and delivered to the ROK Navy in 2031 after a sea trial.
KSS-III Batch-II submarine specifications
Displacement: 3,600t (surfaced), 4,000t (submerged)
Length: 89.4m
Beam: 9.7m
Draught: 7.6m
Weapons: 6 x 533mm ATP torpedo tubes Babcock International WHLS (K761 Tiger Shark, C-Star-III), Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM), 10 x VLS (Hyunmoo-IV-4)
Propulsion System: Diesel-Electric AIP,3 x Rolls-Royce MTU 12V 4000 U83 Diesel Engine, 4 x Bumhan PH1 Fuel Cell
Battery: lithium-ion battery
Speed: 20 knots (submerged)
Range: 18,500km (surfaced)
