Korean Attack Submarine program

The KSS (meaning Korean Submarine) program is a three-phased project to build up the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy)'s 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.

Through the first phase, KSS-I, the ROK Navy acquired nine 1,200-ton "Chang Bo-go" class submarines. For the second phase, KSS-II, the ROK Navy plans to acquire nine 1,800-ton Type 214 submarines with Air-Independent propulsion (AIP) system [ [http://navy.korea.kr/navy/jsp/navy1_branch.jsp?_action=news_view&_property=p_sec_2&_id=155166300 "방사청, 英 구조잠수정 1척 도입키로"] . Republic of Korea Navy i-News. Retrieved March 11, 2007.] ; the lead ship of her class, ROKS "Sohn Won-il" (SS 072) was launched at a shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries on June 9, 2006. The third phase of the program, KSS-III is scheduled to begin in 2007 and to build the lead ship of her class in 2017. A total of nine 3,000-ton KSS-III submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies (i.e. not going under license as the previous KSS-I and KSS-II submarines). [ [http://article.joins.com/article/article.asp?ctg=10&Total_ID=2641821 "3000t급 잠수함 개발 연내 착수"] . Joins.com. Retrieved March 7, 2007.]

See also

* Republic of Korea Navy

Notes