Korea KSS (Chang Bo Go) Submarine program

Prime Minister Mark Carney aboard the KSS-III Batch-II.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Thursday, the 30th, that it has signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) for a system development project to upgrade the performance of three Jangbogo-II (Type 214) submarines, valued at 468.9 billion KRW.

This performance improvement project covers three of the nine Jangbogo-II submarines that have been in service for more than 10 years. Key equipment, including the Combat Management System, Towed Array Sonar, Mine Avoidance Sonar, and Buoy Antenna, will be replaced with the latest models. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to complete the performance upgrade by 2033, in cooperation with LIG Nex1, which previously carried out the upgrade of the Jangbogo-I (Type 209) submarines.

Angus Topshee, Vice-Admiral and Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, had the opportunity on the morning of the 31st to personally experience the excellence of the Korean submarine by riding the ROKS Ahn Mu, the second vessel of the 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine (SS-III), in the waters near the ROK Navy's Busan Naval Base.

Although blurred, this material provides a general idea of the interior of the KSS-III Batch-II. Thanks to Canada, I get to catch glimpses of precious moments.

ROKS Ahn Mu, a Dosan An Chang-ho-class vessel participating in Silent Shark 2025 starting November 18. I'm not sure exactly when she departed, but she arrived in Guam today, the 17th. This marks the first time the KSS-III has participated in overseas joint exercises, demonstrating its capability for long-range ocean voyages and operations in high-temperature tropical waters. Personally, I hope the ROKN conducts joint exercises with nations surrounding the Arctic Ocean. In the long term, the ROKN's operational area must expand to that extent. According to ‘Navy Vision 2045’, the plan is to extend the ROKN's operational range to the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea.

ROKN's First Submarine, ROKS Jangbogo (SS-I, 1,200 tons), Completes its 34-Year Journey

The ROKS Jangbogo, the Republic of Korea Navy's (ROKN) first submarine, which is scheduled for decommissioning at the end of this year, will conduct its final voyage on Wednesday, November 19.

Launched in 1991 and commissioned in June 1993 as the ROKN's inaugural submarine, the ROKS Jangbogo laid the foundation for the Navy to establish its three-dimensional naval power (surface, sub-surface, and air).

It has upheld the submarine safety motto: "Dive a hundred times, surface a hundred times."

Over the past 34 years, it has safely navigated 342,000 miles (approximately 633,000 km), traversing the East, West, and South Seas, as well as distant waters, successfully completing its mission to protect South Korea's maritime sovereignty.

-In 1997, during training deployment to Hawaii, it successfully completed a 10,000-mile solo voyage, demonstrating its long-range underwater capability.

-In the 2004 RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise), the submarine achieved a remarkable feat by conducting simulated attacks against over 30 ships, including a U.S. aircraft carrier, without ever being detected. This success showcased the ROKN's exceptional submarine operation capability to the world.

(ROKS Jangbogo, which achieved 200,000 miles of accident-free safe navigation.)

The significance of this final voyage is enhanced by the presence of four original crew members, including the first commanding officer, Ahn Byung-gu (Ret. Brigadier General), who commanded the Jangbogo's maiden voyage, as well as the former Weapons Officer and Command Master Chief.