Recently, the Chief of the General Staff of the Taiwan Navy, Chiu Chun-jung, confirmed the latest advancements in the attack submarine construction program. Set as one of the goals of the Taiwanese government, this program has experienced delays in its execution, leading to revisions of the initial planning. Meanwhile, the first unit, ROCS Narwhal (SS-711), is undergoing port tests.
At the end of September 2023, the Taiwan Navy celebrated the unveiling of its first locally manufactured attack submarine, from the new Hai Kun class. Named ROCS Narwhal (SS-711), it is the first unit built at the CSBC Corp. shipyards, out of a total of eight planned. However, delays have been reported in the system and port tests, and to date, it has not conducted its first navigation or dive. Meanwhile, other urgent matters have had to be addressed by naval commanders and the Taiwanese government.
Although it was announced that approval for the construction plan of the remaining seven units would take place after the Narwhal’s tests, the Taiwanese government decided to approve the construction plan anyway. However, this plan includes changes from the original, taking into account the difficulties observed in the manufacturing of the first unit and delays in the provision of key submarine components. Various specialists indicate that, despite the advancements of the island’s shipbuilding industry, it still relies heavily on foreign suppliers, primarily from the United States.
The original plan stipulated that the following submarines would be constructed in an initial batch of three units, followed by two additional batches of two units each. However, according to statements from the Chief of the Taiwan Navy and based on the country’s current capabilities, the first batch will consist of two units, followed by three in the second batch and two in the third.
Another issue highlighted by senior leadership is the progress in the system tests that the Narwhal is undergoing. He expressed that the goal is for the submarine to be commissioned in 2025, as necessary adjustments during the testing phase are completed. He added that the submarine is preparing to begin acceptance testing soon, with a view to its delivery to the Taiwan Navy.
*Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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