Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to Build Submarines Equipped with 10 SLBMs

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) will build the second 3,600-ton Jangbogo-Ⅲ Batch-Ⅱ submarine equipped with 10 vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).

On the 10th, DSME signed a contract with the military to build the second Jangbogo-Ⅲ Batch-Ⅱ submarine worth 985.7 billion KRW.

The 'Jangbogo-Ⅲ' project is a next-generation Korean submarine development program, and 'Batch' refers to a group of ships constructed of the same type. The performance of the vessels improves from Batch-Ⅰ to Ⅱ and Ⅲ.

The 3,600-ton Batch-Ⅱ submarine is a diesel-powered submarine measuring 89 meters in length and 9.6 meters in width. It is heavier and approximately 5.5 meters longer than the Batch-Ⅰ lead ship, Dosan Ahn Changho (3,000 tons), recently delivered to the Navy. Notably, while the Batch-Ⅰ class submarines are equipped with six SLBM vertical launch tubes, the longer Batch-Ⅱ class is expected to have up to 10 launch tubes. However, the military has not officially disclosed whether SLBM launch tubes will be installed.

Another distinctive feature is the domestic first installation of lithium batteries instead of lead-acid batteries in the submarine. It is only the second time in the world that lithium batteries are used in medium-to-large submarines. Lithium batteries have a longer lifespan than lead-acid batteries, allowing for extended underwater endurance. This is expected to contribute to enhanced underwater operational capabilities.

Additionally, the domestic production rate reaches 80%, which will facilitate easier procurement of repair parts and maintenance support after commissioning, and is expected to improve the export competitiveness of domestically produced submarines.

The target date for the 3,600-ton class to be operational is 2027. The second submarine, for which the construction contract was signed this time, is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and delivered to the Navy in 2028.

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