The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a launching ceremony for the ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, the first KSS-III Batch-II submarine, at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard on the afternoon of October 22.
ROK Navy & DAPA Press Release issued in Korean, translated by Naval News
The KSS-III program is South Korea’s 3,000-ton-class submarine acquisition project. The Batch-I submarines are of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class, and the newly launched Jang Yeong-sil marks the first vessel of the improved Batch-II series.
The ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, indigenously designed and built in South Korea, designed and built in South Korea, reached this significant milestone following the signing of the construction contract in 2019, the steel cutting ceremony in 2021, and the keel-laying ceremony in 2023.
As the Navy’s first 3,600-ton-class submarine, the ROKS Jang Yeong-sil represents a world-class diesel-electric submarine and a key strategic asset with enhanced capabilities to respond to a wide range of maritime security threats.
The ROKS Jang Yeong-sil features significant overall performance improvements over the earlier Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class submarines, including enhanced detection, strike capability, stealth, and survivability.
Displacing approximately 3,600 tons and measuring about 89 meters in length, the Jang Yeong-sil is larger in size compared to the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class.
The submarine’s combat system, serving as its “brain,” and sonar system, functioning as its “eyes and ears,” have been upgraded to enhance information processing and target detection capabilities, while also improving land-attack strike capability.
Equipped with proven lithium-ion batteries, the submarine can operate underwater for longer durations and sustain high-speed maneuvers, thereby reducing the risk of exposure during operations. Various noise and vibration reduction technologies have also been applied, lowering underwater radiated noise and improving stealth performance.
In addition, the vessel’s survivability has been enhanced through the installation of an auxiliary propulsion system, which enables maneuvering even in emergency situations such as a main propulsion failure.
Furthermore, ROKS Jang Yeong-sil incorporates a greater number of locally developed and manufactured components, contributing to the submarine’s operational reliability while enhancing the technological foundation and export competitiveness of Korea’s defense industry.
Commemorative photo at the launching ceremony. (ROK Navy photo)
The launching ceremony was attended by more than 200 distinguished guests, including Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil as the principal guest, along with senior military officials and representatives from the defense industry and export sectors.
The event proceeded in the following order: the national ceremony, a program overview, the naming declaration, commemorative remarks, awards for contributors, congratulatory addresses, and finally, the launching and safe-sailing blessing ceremony.
Admiral Kang Dong-gil, Chief of Naval Operations, delivers his congratulatory remarks. (ROK Navy photo)
In his congratulatory remarks, Admiral Kang Dong-gil, Chief of Naval Operations, stated:
Admiral Son Won-il, the father of the ROK Navy, once said, ‘The Navy itself is created through the integration of the finest and most advanced elements of modern science.’
I am confident that the ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, built with our own technology, will serve as a signal flare for the Navy’s leap toward becoming a smart, elite force, and will fulfill its role as a core asset in safeguarding the Republic of Korea’s maritime sovereignty.
Mrs. Park Mi-young, wife of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil, cuts the launching line in accordance with naval tradition. (ROK Navy photo)
Mr. Lee Sang-woo, Director General of the KSS-III Submarine Project Team at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), stated:
The ROKS Jang Yeong-sil is a world-class diesel-electric submarine and a culmination of advanced scientific and technological excellence representing Korean Defense Industry. This launching ceremony served as a valuable opportunity to showcase the outstanding technological capabilities of Korean Defense Industry to the Korean people and the world. We expect that Korean Submarines will become key strategic assets leading global security and peace while greatly contributing to the expansion of Korea’s defense exports.
The ROKS Jang Yeong-sil will undergo a series of sea trials and evaluations before being delivered to the Navy at the end of 2027. Following its delivery, the submarine will complete its operational deployment process and enter active service.
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Naval News comments: About KSS-III Batch-II
KSS-III Batch-II submarine scale model on the ROK Navy booth at MADEX 2023. Note the 10 VLS.
Displacement: 3,600t (surfaced), 4,000t (submerged)
Length: 89.4m
Beam: 9.7m
Draught: 7.6m
Weapons: 6 x 533mm ATP torpedo tubes Babcock International WHLS (K761 Tiger Shark, C-Star-III), Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM), 10 x VLS (for Hyunmoo-IV-4 SLBM)
Propulsion System: Diesel-Electric AIP, 3 x Rolls-Royce MTU 12V 4000 U83 Diesel Engine, 4 x Bumhan PH1 Fuel Cell
Battery: lithium-ion battery
Speed: 20 knots (submerged)
Range: 18,500km (surfaced)
Watch Naval News’ interview on KSS-III with an official from DAPA: