Taiwan launches its first homemade submarine

MELBOURNE, Australia — Taiwan has launched its first domestically-built submarine, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to replace an aging naval capability.

The diesel-electric attack submarine, christened the Hai Kun after a mythical sea creature in Chinese folklore, was launched at the shipyard of CSBC Shipyard in the southern city of Kaohsiung earlier on Thursday, Sept. 28.

The launch ceremony was attended by the self-ruling island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, and comes seven years after Taiwan first decided to build its own submarines to replace the four elderly submarines currently operated by the country’s Republic of China Navy, or ROCN.

Photos of the launch ceremony published by the government and media present showed that the design has an X-rudder configuration for operations in shallow waters, with a pair of additional small horizontal fins.

However, Taiwan has not released the Hai Kun’s specifications, although local media has previously reported that it displaces approximately 2,500 tonnes and is 70 meters, or 230 feet, long.

It has also been reported that Taiwan has received significant foreign assistance in building the submarine, although 40% of components are local.

This overseas assistance reported includes a version of the AN/BYG-1 submarine combat management system, used in U.S. Navy nuclear submarines, being sold to Taiwan, along with digital sonar systems, integrated combat systems and auxiliary equipment systems, including periscopes.

The U.K. government has granted licenses to companies to export some $200 million worth of submarine technology and parts to Taiwan, and retired engineers from Japan’s Mitsubishi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries were believed to have provided technical support.

Reuters has also reported in November 2021 that that Taiwan had recruited engineers and retired submariners from the U.S., U.K., Australia, South Korea, India, Spain and Canada to work on the program and advise the ROCN on submarine construction and operations.

Taiwan is seeking to build eight submarines, with the Hai Kun expected to be commissioned into the ROCN in 2025 after sea trials following its launch.

Taiwan’s submarine fleet currently comprises two former U.S. Navy submarines built during World War II and two former Dutch Navy boats acquired in the late 1980s.

Mike Yeo is the Asia correspondent for Defense News.

澳大利亚墨尔本——台湾下水了第一艘国产潜艇，这标志着台湾在更新换代老旧海军能力方面取得了重大进展。

这艘柴电攻击潜艇以中国民间传说中的神话海兽海坤命名，于9月28日星期四早些时候在南部城市高雄的中国船东造船厂下水。

台湾总统蔡英文出席了下水仪式。七年前，台湾首次决定建造自己的潜艇，以取代中华民国海军（ROCN）目前使用的四艘老旧潜艇。

政府和在场媒体发布的下水仪式照片显示，该设计采用 X 形舵配置，适用于浅水作业，并配有一对额外的小型水平鳍。

然而，台湾方面尚未公布海坤号的规格，尽管当地媒体此前报道称，该舰排水量约为2500吨，长70米（或230英尺）。

另有报道称，台湾在建造这艘潜艇的过程中获得了大量外国援助，尽管其中 40% 的部件是本地制造的。

据报道，此次海外援助包括向台湾出售的美国海军核潜艇使用的 AN/BYG-1 潜艇作战管理系统，以及数字声呐系统、综合作战系统和辅助设备系统，包括潜望镜。

英国政府已向一些公司颁发许可证，允许其向台湾出口价值约 2 亿美元的潜艇技术和零部件，据信日本三菱重工和川崎重工的退休工程师提供了技术支持。

路透社在 2021 年 11 月也曾报道，台湾已从美国、英国、澳大利亚、韩国、印度、西班牙和加拿大招募工程师和退役潜艇兵参与该项目，并就潜艇建造和操作向台湾海军提供建议。

台湾正计划建造八艘潜艇，其中“海坤”号预计将在下水后进行海试，并于 2025 年加入台湾海军服役。

台湾的潜艇舰队目前由两艘二战期间建造的美国海军潜艇和两艘上世纪80年代末获得的荷兰海军潜艇组成。

Mike Yeo 是《防务新闻》的亚洲通讯员。