South Korea orders 3 additional KSS-III submarines

The first KSS-III Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine of the ROKN. Photo c/o DSME.


In addition to an earlier announcement to construct 3 new AEGIS-equipped KDX-III destroyers, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) also announced on 30 April 2019 that Ministry of National Defense (MND) has approved plans to construct a second batch of three (3) Dosan Ahn Changho-class KSS-III diesel-electric submarines worth KRW3.4 trillion (US$2.92 billion) for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

DAPA expects contracts to support the programs to be concluded in a few months.

The second batch of KSS-III ballistic missile-capable submarines will also be an improvement over the first batch, and are expected to be delivered to the ROKN by 2028. The new submarines will be equipped with more missile launchers, and lengthened hull, improved electric propulsion system, and will use more indigenous combat systems and sensors.

While the second batch will be larger, the first batch of KSS-III are designed to be 83.5 meters long, 9.6 meters wide and with a draught of 7.6 meters, has a maximum submerged displacement of 3,700 tons, They are expected to have a maximum submerged speed of 20 knots, a maximum range of 10,000 nautical miles, and an endurance of 50 days.

Both first and second batch of KSS-III will be equipped with the Hyunmoo-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile, in addition to eight 533mm torpedo tubes and capability to fire submarine-launched anti-ship cruise missiles.



[1] Navy Recognition
[2] Defense & Security Monitor
[3] Jane’s Defense Weekly

South Korea orders 3 additional KSS-III submarines South Korea orders 3 additional KSS-III submarines Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on May 02, 2019 Rating: 5

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