SEOUL, South Korea has started the construction of its third and last 3,600-ton-class naval submarine, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday, amid efforts to bolster defense capabilities against North Korean threats.
Last month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a 1.1 trillion-won (US$829 million) deal with shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to build the Changbogo-III Batch-II class submarine by 2031.
DAPA said it held talks with Hanwha officials Wednesday to finalize the vessel’s production schedule to complete construction by 2029 and deliver it to the Navy in 2031 after trial runs.
The 89-meter-long Batch-II submarine is part of the military’s Changbogo-III or KSS-III program to acquire advanced diesel-electric attack submarines.
The Batch-II model is expected to have 10 vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), up from six equipped in the 3,000-ton Batch-I submarines.
The new submarine’s SLBM system is expected to serve a key role for the mi
litary’s Kill Chain preemptive strike platform designed to eliminate key North Korean nuclear and missile targets if there are clear signs of intended use.
DAPA said the Batch-II submarine will employ the latest noise reduction technology for improved stealthiness and be equipped with a lithium-ion battery, allowing it to carry out longer underwater missions.
The Navy has so far received two KSS-III Batch-I submarines, with another one scheduled to be delivered this year. All three of the Batch-II submarines are currently under construction.
Source: Yonhap News Agency