Taiwan Navy Taiwan reveals first domestically made submarine in defence milestone

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KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan unveiled its first domestically developed submarine on Thursday, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening the island's defence and deterrence against the Chinese navy, though it won't enter service for another two years.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the plan when she took office in 2016, showed off the first of eight new submarines on Thursday in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

"In the past, a domestically developed submarine was considered an impossible task. But, today, a submarine designed and manufactured by our country's people sits before our eyes," Tsai said, adding that it would play an important role in strengthening the navy's "asymmetric warfare" capabilities.

"Even if there are risks, and no matter how many challenges there are, Taiwan must take this step and allow the self-reliant national defence policy to grow and flourish on our land," Tsai said, standing in front of the ship, named the Narwhal. Taiwan's red flag, featuring a white sun against a blue sky, was wrapped around the submarine's bow.

Tsai said the Narwhal will enter service in 2025, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

The indigenous submarine program has drawn on expertise and technology from several countries - a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan.

Cheng Wen-lon, head of Taiwan's CSBC Corp (2208.TW), which led construction of the submarine, said the domestic content of the boat was about 40%. He made no explicit mention of foreign participation in his speech in Kaohsiung.

Underscoring the importance of the United States' security relationship with the island despite a lack of official ties, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk, attended the ceremony. The United States is Taiwan's largest arms supplier.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that faced with an increased threat from China's military "grey zone" pressure tactics close to the island with air and naval activities, Taiwan had to strengthen its defences.

"Having a new submarine is one of those strategies. For anyone who questions Taiwan's submarine strategy, I would be a most forceful advocate for Taiwan to acquire submarines because that's needed to deter war from taking place," Wu said.

Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, the head of the program said this month.

The first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.53 billion), will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and carry U.S.-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes. It will enter sea trials next month before delivery to the navy by the end of 2024.

Admiral Huang Shu-kuang, Tsai's security adviser leading the program, has described the submarines as a "strategic deterrent" that can also help maintain the island's "lifeline" to the Pacific by keeping ports along Taiwan's eastern coast open.

 

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@Anmdt how the heck 2500 ton diesel electric submarine cost $1.5 billion? almost as much as state of art Suffren class SSN!

I mean, no similar SSK is costing that much. Whether it is Japanese Teigei or Spanish S-80+.
 

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@Anmdt how the heck 2500 ton diesel electric submarine cost $1.5 billion? almost as much as state of art Suffren class SSN!

I mean, no similar SSK is costing that much. Whether it is Japanese Teigei or Spanish S-80+.
RnD cost.
 

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@Anmdt how the heck 2500 ton diesel electric submarine cost $1.5 billion? almost as much as state of art Suffren class SSN!

I mean, no similar SSK is costing that much. Whether it is Japanese Teigei or Spanish S-80+.
They have a lot of tech transfer, iirc this is a multinational project involving experts and parts from France, Britain,Japan etc
 

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@Anmdt how the heck 2500 ton diesel electric submarine cost $1.5 billion? almost as much as state of art Suffren class SSN!

I mean, no similar SSK is costing that much. Whether it is Japanese Teigei or Spanish S-80+.
Uncle Sams help doesn't come cheap.
 

Anmdt

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They have a lot of tech transfer, iirc this is a multinational project involving experts and parts from France, Britain,Japan etc
Possibly US too. Their naval programs seem to have a great input from US.
However they have great naval architectures whom i met in person, but falls short in numbers and know-how of such vessels, thus this input totally acceptable and reasonable. They have no interest in being fully self-sufficient in naval vessel's design either, as long as they are on the construction side.
 

Anmdt

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@Anmdt how the heck 2500 ton diesel electric submarine cost $1.5 billion? almost as much as state of art Suffren class SSN!

I mean, no similar SSK is costing that much. Whether it is Japanese Teigei or Spanish S-80+.
Not sure if they are being frank about the price, as in including everything or just the hull and RnD. But each year spent on design of a submarine costs between 50-100$ mil.
 

B_A

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They have a lot of tech transfer, iirc this is a multinational project involving experts and parts from France, Britain,Japan etc

They even want to buy some tech from Turkey.

Because the pressure from PRC,every export to Taiwan must be in secret and very high price.
 

B_A

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Not sure if they are being frank about the price, as in including everything or just the hull and RnD. But each year spent on design of a submarine costs between 50-100$ mil.
In some way Taiwanese even harder to import weapon than Iran and North Korea.

Every country want to export to Taiwan will under the pressure from PRC,even American in Obama time they didnt sold to Taiwan.
 

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