The KSS-III (Korean Submarine-III;), officially called Dosan Ahn Changho class is a series of diesel-electric multipurpose attack submarines currently being built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), jointly by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The KSS-III is the final phase of the Korean Attack Submarine program, a three-phased program to build 27 attack submarines for the ROKN, between 1994–2029.[1]
The KSS-III initiative consists of the development of nine diesel-electric attack submarines, capable of firing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), to be built in three batches, between 2014–2029.[2]
A total of three submarines of the first batch of the series have been launched, with the first submarine,, being commissioned on 13 August 2019. The second ship,, was commissioned on 20 April 2023.
The design of the KSS-III was jointly designed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (now Hanwha Ocean) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (now HD Hyundai Heavy Industries) - two of South Korea's largest shipbuilding enterprises; preparations for the design began in 2007.[3] [4] The KSS-III is the largest submarine built in Korea and the first submarine designed with domestic technology, unlike the KSS-II submarine (Son Won-il-class submarine) previously produced in cooperation with Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).
The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class, the first 3,000-ton submarine designed through the KSS-III program, achieved a 76 percent localization rate, twice as high as the previously license-built KSS-II submarine. The development process adopted a design process using digital mock-up simulation for the first time in Korea, and the hull was made of HY-100 alloy steel to withstand high pressure of deep water. Although the size of the submarine is larger than that of the existing KSS-II submarine, the noise is minimized by applying non-acoustic stealth technologies such as acoustic anechoic coating and elastic mounts. The submarine's interior is made up of large and small pipes measuring 85 km in total length and has 127 types of acoustic and electronic equipment embedded in.[5] [6]
The first vessel,, of the KSS-III program was designed as a system development process using experimental technologies to demonstrate South Korea's independent submarine building capabilities, but the second,, is the first submarine to be built and commissioned through an official mass production process. Ahn Mu successfully passed 125 items of builder test, 208 items of harbor acceptance test, and 90 items of sea acceptance test during the trial run process from January 2020 to April 2023. It also includes key features such as VHF marine communication system, passive linear array sonar, torpedo acoustic counter measure, underwater radiated noise level, electric propulsion motor, which are improved from the previous Dosan Ahn Changho.[7]
The Batch-I series is the first phase of the KSS-III program - consisting of the construction of three attack submarines - with the first two to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and the third one to be built by HHI.[8]
The Batch-I design possesses a length of 83.5m (274feet), with a breadth of and a draught of - with a displacement of 3358t while surfaced and 3750t while submerged; they are the first submarines with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes to ever be built by South Korea.[9] [10] [11] [12] According to DSME, over 76% of the submarine's components were procured from within South Korea.[12]
The Batch-I design has an estimated speed of about 12knot while surfaced, and while submerged - and possesses a cruising range of around 10000nmi, at economic speed, along with a crew complement of 50.[13] The design further incorporates an indigenously-designed fuel-cell powered air-independent propulsion (AIP) module - which enables the submarine to conduct long-distance underwater operations for up to 20 days.[14] [15] The PH1 cell module developed by Bumhan Industries is also the world's second hydrogen fuel cell used in submarines after Siemens' fuel cells.[16] [17]
The design accommodates six Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS) cells, located behind the submarine's sail - for carrying six Hyunmoo 4-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), along with six 5330NaN0 forward-firing torpedo tubes, located at the bow.[18] Coincidentally, the KSS-III is the first ever AIP-equipped attack-submarine, capable of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
The Batch-II series constitutes the second phase of the KSS-III program - and is noted to possess multiple improvements in terms of design, armament and automation, over the Batch-I series.[19]
The Batch-II design possesses a length of, with a breadth of, along with an estimated displacement of around .[20] [21] According to DSME, the Batch-II series will be equipped with "a greater level of South Korean technology" - with over 80% of the submarine's parts to be domestically sourced.[22] [23]
Similar to the Batch-I, the Batch-II will also reportedly have a top speed of and a crew complement of 50.[20]
A notable feature of the Batch-II submarines is its lithium-ion battery technology (LiB); the Batch-II series will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries - developed by Samsung SDI (and supplied by Hanwha Defense), apart from the AIP system.[24] Compared to previous lead-acid batteries which are generally used to power other conventionally-powered submarines, the new lithium-ion batteries will reportedly allow the KSS-III to cruise at greater speeds with a greater period of underwater endurance, life-expectancy and durability.[25] Incidentally, Korea is only the second country in the world to field submarines equipped with lithium-ion batteries; the first is Japan - which utilizes lithium-ion battery technology aboard its s.[26]
The design also incorporates ten K-VLS cells (compared to six on the Batch-I) - which are presumably to carry the Hyunmoo 4-4 ballistic missiles and the future Chonryong land-attack cruise missile.[27]
The Batch-I series is currently equipped with an assortment of different sensors and equipment, including:
On 26 December 2012 - South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) contracted DSME to build the first two Batch-I submarines - at an estimated cost of USD $1.56 billion.[10] On 30 November 2016 - the MND contracted HHI to build the third submarine of the series.[8]
The construction of the first submarine began in November 2014, with a "steel-cutting" ceremony at DSME's shipyard in Okpo, South Korea[37] The submarine, christened as the Dosan Ahn Changho, was launched in an elaborate ceremony on 14 September 2018 - an event that was attended by senior representatives from South Korea's government and military, including South Korean president Moon Jae-in.[37] Dosan Ahn Changho began its sea trials in June 2019 and was commissioned into the ROKN on 13 August 2021.[37]
Work on the second submarine began - with the laying of its keel in July 2016.[8] Christened as the Ahn Mu, the submarine was launched on 10 November 2020.[38] It is scheduled to be delivered by 2022.[38]
The construction of the third and final submarine began in June 2017, at HHI's shipbuilding facility in Ulsan, South Korea.[8] Christened as the Shin Chae-ho, the submarine was launched on 28 September 2021.[39] It is scheduled to be delivered by 2024.[39]
On 11 October 2019, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) contracted DSME to design and build the first Batch-II submarine - at an estimated cost KRW ₩1.11 trillion.[40] On 10 September 2019, DSME was again contracted to build the second Batch-II submarine - at an estimated cost of ₩985.7 billion.[41]
The construction of the first submarine - the Lee Bong-chang, began in August 2021 and is scheduled to be delivered to the ROKN in 2026.[42] The construction of the second submarine began in December 2021 and is scheduled to be delivered to the ROKN by 2028.[43]
At the 2019 convention of the "International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition" (MADEX), held at Busan, South Korea, DSME unveiled the DSME-2000 - a, diesel-electric variant of the KSS-III, as an export-oriented design for foreign navies.[44]
The DSME-2000 possesses a length of and a diameter of, with a crew complement of 40, with additional space for about 10 special forces commandos.[45] The design has an estimated speed of while surfaced, and while submerged and possesses a cruising range of around, at cruising speed.[45]
The DSME-2000 displaces at 2,000 tonnes and is larger than South Korea's (based on the Type 209/1400 design) and the Son Won-il class (based on the Type 214 design), but is smaller than the Dosan Ahn Changho class.[44]
The design incorporates an arrangement of eight forward-firing torpedo tubes, with a pack of 16 torpedoes - although this can be combined with an assortment of naval mines and anti-ship missiles.[44] The submarine's design also features a flexible weapon launching system - which can be tailored according to the customer's requirements.[45]
Similar to the KSS-III, the DSME-2000 will also be equipped with an AIP module and lithium-ion batteries.[45] The design also includes an assortment of equipment, including -
DSME has offered a 3,000-tonne variant of the KSS-III, known as the DSME-3000 to the Indian Navy, under the latter's Project-75 (India) (P-75I) submarine procurement initiative.[46] The DSME-3000 is noted to be quite similar to the KSS-III, featuring a displacement of about 3,300 t, with a length measuring and a beam measuring .[47] The DSME-3000 was first displayed to the public at the 2021 convention of the "International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition" (MADEX), held at Busan, South Korea.[46]
The DSME-3000 will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries and a fuel-cell powered AIP system, as on the KSS-III; however, the variant being offered to India lacks the K-VLS cells, which are standard on both Batch-I and Batch-II submarines being built for the Republic of Korea Navy.[46]
DSME entered the competition in April 2019 and was later shortlisted as a finalist, along with four other international shipyards - ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Rubin Design Bureau, Navantia and Naval Group.[48] [49] As of September 2021, the firm is reported to be the only remaining contender; the other four contenders either withdrew or were disqualified from the program, on account of varying reasons.[50]
| Name | Pennant Number | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batch-I | ||||||
| SS-083 | Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) | 17 May 2016 | 14 September 2018 | 13 August 2021 | Active | |
| SS-085[51] | 17 April 2018 | 10 November 2020 | 20 April 2023 | Active | ||
| SS-086[52] | HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) | 11 April 2019 | 28 September 2021 | 4 April 2024 | Launched | |
| Batch-II | ||||||
| ROKS Lee Bong-chang[53] | SS-087[54] | Hanwha Ocean | 30 March 2023[55] | Scheduled for 2026 | Under construction | |