Seoul commissions Type 214 sub
The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has commissioned the first of three KSS-2 (Type 214) submarines in a closed ceremony at Chinhae naval base.
The 1860-ton Sohn Won-il, which was launched in June 2006, completed sea trials and acceptance tests over the past 18 months.
Construction took place at Hyundai heavy Industries' Ulsan yard, under license from ThyssenKrupp subsidiary Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), which provided the designand major components. The commissioning event was held on 26 December 2007.
A second boat, Jeongji, was launched by Hyundai in June 2007 and is expected to enter service in November 2008. The third KSS-2 is still under construction, with commissioning likely in 2009.
In January 2007, the South Korean government announced its intention to procurea second batch of six KSS-2s. Production of these is due to start in 2012 for completion in 2020.
Equipped with MTU diesel engines and air-independent propulsion (AIP) using Siemens polymer electrolytic membrane fuel cells, the boats will be able to remain submerged for up to three weeks at a time: far longer than the RoKN's current fleet of nine 1285-ton Chang Bogo-class (Type 209) submarines.
The KSS-2 is a synthesis of HDW's proven type 209 design with AIP from the Type 212 submarine. Seoul is the second customer for Type 214 after Greece.
Design work for a much larger follow-on submarine, the KSS-3, began in 2007 and construction of a first hull is expected to start in 2010-11. Up to nine of the 3500-ton KSS-3s could be built, in batches of three.
Source: Janes Defense Weekly
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