Model of a Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine | |
Class overview | |
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Builders | |
Operators | Republic of Korea Navy |
Preceded by | Son Won-il class |
Cost | US$ 900,000,000 |
Built | 2016–present |
In service | 2020 schedule |
Planned | 9 |
Building | 2 |
Completed | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Attack submarine |
Displacement | (Batch I) 3,358 t (3,305 long tons) surfaced, 3,750 t (3,690 long tons) submerged |
Length | 83.5 m (273 ft 11 in) |
Beam | 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 7.62 m (25 ft 0 in) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range | 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) |
Endurance | 50 days |
Complement | 50 |
Armament |
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The Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines are the final phase of the Korean Attack Submarine program, a three-phased program to build 27 attack submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy between 1994 and 2029. [2] The lead vessel, Dosan Anh Changho , was launched in 2018. It began sea trials in 2019 and entered service on 13 August 2021. [3] [4]
The new class will have a submarine version of the Korean Vertical Launching System which will be able to carry up to ten indigenous "Chonryong" land-attack cruise missiles and "Hyunmoo" submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), [2] becoming the first submarine in the South Korean navy to have this kind of capability. It will also have many other improvements compared to its predecessors built with a greater degree of South Korean technology, especially in the later batches, which will include Samsung SDI lithium-ion batteries. [5] [6] Measured to displace over 3,800 tonnes (3,700 long tons ) submerged during sea trials, [3] they are the largest conventional submarines ever built by South Korea. The Batch II vessels will increase their displacement by approximately 450 t (440 long tons) (4,250 t, 4,180 long tons submerged), according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. [7]
On 25 April 2016 there was a South Korean Congressional Hearing session held immediately after North Korea's SLBM launch, which raised some important questions about the ROK Navy's submarine capabilities to counter this threat. In response to questions whether the ROK Navy was currently developing capabilities to counter the SLBM threat, the ministry confirmed that the KSS-III Batch-II will undergo redesign process before construction (lasting until 30 December 2018) to accommodate capability upgrades. These upgrades will give the Batch-II submarines better capabilities at both attacking strategic land-based facilities and performing anti-submarine warfare. The Next Generation Submarine Project Team held a "System Functional Review" meeting on the KSS-III Batch-II submarine in late June 2017 which led to a review of the Batch-II design. [8]
Expected changes of Batch-II compared to Batch-I:
The lead vessel, Dosan Anh Changho, was launched in 2018. It began sea trials in 2019 and entered service in August 2021. [3] [4] The second vessel of first batch was observed nearing completion in the Geoje shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering on 12 May 2019. [9]
DSME has offered a 3,000 ton variant of the KSS-III, known as the DSME-3000 to the Indian Navy, under the latter's Project-75 (India) (P-75I) submarine procurement initiative. [10] The DSME-3000 is noted to be quite similar to the KSS-III, with a displacement of about 3,300 tons, with a length measuring 83.5 m and a beam measuring 9.7 m. [11] The DSME-3000 was first displayed to the public at the 2021 convention of the "International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition" (MADEX). [12]
The DSME-3000 will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries and a fuel-cell powered air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, as on the KSS-III; however, the variant being offered to India lacks the K-VLS cells which are standard on both Batch-I and Batch-II submarines being built for the Republic of Korea Navy. [13]
DSME officially announced its participation in P-75I in April 2019; having being invited by the Indian Navy, and was shortlisted as a finalist in the competition, along with four other international shipyards - ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Rubin Design Bureau, Navantia and Naval Group. [14] [15] As of September 2021, DSME is reported to be the only contender still competing in P-75I; the other four contenders withdrew from the program, on account of varying reasons. [16]
Name | Pennant number | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho | SS-083 | DSME | 17 May 2016 | 14 September 2018 | 13 August 2021 | Active |
ROKS Ahn Mu | SS-085 | DSME | 17 April 2018 | 10 November 2020 | Launched | |
ROKS Shin Chaeho | SS-086 | Hyundai Heavy Industries | 11 April 2019 | 28 September 2021 | Launched | |
ROKS Lee Bong-chang | SS-087 | DSME | ||||
The Republic of Korea Navy, also known as the ROK Navy or South Korean Navy, is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which functions as a branch of the Navy. The ROK Navy has about 70,000 regular personnel including 29,000 Republic of Korea Marines. There are about 160 commissioned ships with the ROK Navy. The naval aviation force consists of about 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The ROK Marine Corps has about 300 tracked vehicles including assault amphibious vehicles.
The Korean Attack Submarine program, KSS meaning Submarine, is a three-phased project to build up the Republic of Korea Navy 's attack submarine arsenal. Before the KSS program, the submarine fleet of the ROK Navy consisted of midget submarines, such as the Dolgorae class submarine and SX 756 Dolphin class submarine, which had limited capabilities for inshore operations. The KSS program sought to acquire submarines that can deter hostile submarines and surface ships; protect friendly naval bases and sea shores communications; carry out reconnaissance missions.
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KSS-3 may stand for:
The Sinpo class submarine, also called the Gorae ("whale") or Pongdae class, is a new class of submarine produced in North Korea. Only one submarine has been observed in service. It is the largest submarine designed and built for the Korean People's Navy.
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The Daegu-class frigate is a class of guided missile frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). The Daegu-class is based on the preceding Incheon-class frigate, and has otherwise been referred to an Incheon-class batch II, or FFG-II. Eight Daegu-class ships are planned, with the final goal of 20-22 frigates in the ROKN. The Daegu-class frigates are to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.
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ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho (SS-083) is the lead ship of Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines. She is expected to be commissioned in 2020.
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ROKS Kim Jwa-jin (SS-076) is the fourth boat of the Sohn Won-yil-class submarine in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the anarchist, Kim Jwa-jin.