South Korea completes upgrade of Chang Bogo-class submarine Na Dae Yong

ROKS Na Dae Yong (SS-069) of the ROKN. Photo c/o Wikimedia Commons.

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) received the upgraded Chang Bogo-class (Type 209/1200) submarine ROKS Na Dae Yong (SS-069) from South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

The handover took place on 10 June 2019 in DSME’s Okpo shipyard in Geoje Island, completing a 2-year long upgrade of the submarine.

In a statement released on 10 June 2019, the Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) confirmed that the submarine has been retrofitted with a new Combat Management System, a towed-array sonar, and improved target detection and tracking capability.

DAPA official Choi Hoe-gyeong said that “Its testing and evaluation showed that the new version bears the key target-detecting and combat functions required to carry out underwater warfare in a more effective manner”, wherein the employment of indigenous technology will improve the South Korean military’s readiness posture.

The Chang Bogo-class submarine was acquired under the KSS-I diesel electric submarine program of the ROKN. The submarine is 55.9 meters long, has a beam of 6.2 meters, and has a displacement of around 1,200 tons. The ROKS Na Dae Yong was commissioned to the ROKN in November 2000.



[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Korea Times