The Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) newest diesel-electric submarine (SSK), JANG YEONGSIL (SS-087)  -  the first of the KSS-III Batch II (JANG BOGO III Batch II) class - symbolises the rapid advances made by South Korea’s shipbuilding industry. The submarine was launched at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in October.

The 3,600-ton submarine (a first for the ROKN) offers a significant advance in capability over Hanwha’s previous KSS-III Batch I (DOSAN AHN CHANG-HO class) submarines and older KSS-II (SON WON-IL-class) boats.

KSS-III Batch II submarines are twice the displacement of the 1,800 tonne KSS-II boats. Equipped with fuel-cell air-independent propulsion (AIP) and lithium-ion batteries, the KSS-III Batch II can remain submerged for more than three weeks and cover distances exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. The class is also fitted with a Vertical Launch System (VLS) for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). A horseshoe sonar on the bow, flank arrays, and a towed array sonar are fitted.

Speaking to FW MAG at the recently concluded Seoul ADEX, a company official expressed confidence that the submarine remains on track for its 2027 entry into service. He also provided insight into Hanwha Ocean’s OCEAN-20S, which is based on the KSS-III, for which concept design has been completed and the basic design due to be finalised next year. The 2,000-tonne OCEAN-20S, can remain submerged for more than 7 days thanks to its lithium-ion batteries (no snorkelling). The OCEAN-20S also has a lock-out trunk optimized for special operations forces (SOF) missions.

The launch of the first JANG BOGO III Batch II submarine last month, underscores the rapid pace of submarine manufacture in South Korea. The nation’s Ministry of Defence inked the contract for the domestically designed and built submarine in 2019 with steel-cutting in 2021 and keel-laying in 2023. Following the completion of its test and evaluation phase, the JANG YEONGSIL is slated for delivery to the ROKN by late 2027.

Hanwha Ocean is one of two finalists for a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) requirement for between 8-12 new conventional submarines, to replace its ageing VICTORIA-class boats. It is offering the KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (KSS-III CPS), which is based on the KSS-III Batch II. The other contender is Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) with its Type 212CD submarine. Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney, McGuinty Canada’s Defence Minister and the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, inspected the recently launched JANG YEONGSIL (SS-087) in October.

Hanwha Ocean is confident of delivering the first KSS-III CPS within 6 years of contract award, with additional submarines delivered at a rate of one per year. If Canada makes a contract decision in favour of Hanwha Ocean next year, then the first submarine would be delivered by 2032 and a total of four by 2035. Canada could receive its entire complement of 12 submarines by 2043. Hanwha Ocean has estimated that the early retirement of the RCN’s Victoria Class fleet will result in estimated maintenance and support cost savings of approximately $1 Billion.

TKMS meanwhile claims that it can deliver its first boat to the RCN in 2034 and the second in 2036.  

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