HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has successfully completed the overhaul of the Republic of Korea Navy diesel-electric submarine ROKS Yun Bong-gil 35 days ahead of schedule.
HD HHI press release translated by Naval News
HD HHI announced on the 20th that it recently delivered the overhauled 214-class submarine ROKS Yun Bong-gil to the Republic of Korea Navy at its Ulsan headquarters.
Submarine overhaul refers to a series of maintenance operations performed at a shipyard to maintain the hull and equipment in optimal condition.
The overhaul officially began on January 30, 2024, and despite the complexity of the work, it was completed 35 days earlier than scheduled.
Notably, HD HHI successfully carried out a total of approximately 1,620 maintenance tasks, the largest scale in its overhaul projects to date, including 1,260 planned tasks and 360 additional unplanned ones. This showcases the company’s excellent technological expertise and project management capabilities.
ROKS Yun Bong-gil, built by HD HHI, is the fifth 214-class submarine (KSS-II) of the Republic of Korea Navy. Since its delivery in June 2016, it has proven its capabilities in strategic missions, including joint exercises with the U.S. Navy.
The submarine measures 65.3 meters in length, 6.3 meters in width, and has a submerged displacement of 1,800 tons. It is equipped with an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, allowing for underwater operations of up to two weeks, and it can carry indigenous cruise missiles capable of precision strikes on key enemy facilities.
This early delivery of the overhauled submarine, following the on-time delivery of the ROKS Shin Chae-ho, is another testament to our submarine construction and maintenance capabilities, adding, We will continue to contribute to national security as a key partner in protecting the country’s maritime domain.
Won-ho Joo, Head of Naval & Special Ship Business Unit at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
Meanwhile, HD HHI is accelerating the development of various export submarine models, including a 1,500-ton model for Peru, as well as 2,300-ton and 800-ton variants, to expand its presence in the global submarine market.
