Daewoo Shipbuilding Achieves World’s Longest Submersion Endurance Test Using Domestic Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has once again demonstrated its outstanding submarine construction technology.

DSME announced on the 10th that it succeeded in the world's longest continuous operation among diesel submarines during the continuous operation test evaluation of Dosan Ahn Changho, the first domestically produced 3,000-ton class submarine equipped with an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.

This AIP operation test is a crucial evaluation directly related to the submarine's stealth and survivability, confirming whether the submarine can operate underwater continuously for an extended period. In particular, the AIP is a propulsion system that allows power generation while submerged in an underwater environment where external air supply is impossible. Therefore, the performance of the AIP determines the submarine's submerged endurance.

The AIP system of Dosan Ahn Changho is equipped with a domestically developed fuel cell for submarines, successfully localized through a joint effort led by DSME and domestic industry-academia-research collaboration. As the system integrator, DSME began research on fuel cell localization with the Agency for Defense Development in 2008, completed fuel cell development in 2014, and localized related power conversion and control systems, completing real-ship verification with the world's longest operation test.

The fuel cell system developed by DSME is the second in the world to succeed after Germany and was the first to be installed on a 3,000-ton class medium submarine. Especially, through close cooperation with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Agency for Defense Development, Defense Technology Quality Institute, and major domestic parts manufacturers such as Bumhan Fuel Cell, KTE, Ewha Electric, Daesung Industrial Gas, and Wonil T&I, this development has become an opportunity to showcase Korea's submarine technology both domestically and internationally.

DSME stated that based on the remaining fuel amount after the test, the performance far exceeded the operational requirements demanded by the military.

Yoo Soo-jun, Executive Vice President of DSME's Special Ship Business Division, said, "Proving the longest submerged endurance performance underwater with the AIP system of Dosan Ahn Changho is a remarkable achievement," adding, "We will successfully complete the remaining sea trials and deliver the world's highest quality medium submarine independently designed in Korea to contribute to national security."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.