 that looks to be based on the Japanese Soryu class with some design features carried over from Taiwan's two Dutch built SSKs. Indications are that this is the first of eight to be built at a total cost of around 10 billion US dollars. As a weapon system, it is almost perfect for what Taiwan needs. Cleverly combining 'new' with 'tried and tested' equipment, it is highly likely that these will be effective submarines from the off. SSKs lack the legs of their nuclear powered brethren but also the crippling price tag and complex supporting infrastructure. Given the ranges at which they will be needed, i.e. inside the first island chain, nuclear propulsion would have been excessive. Taiwan is also developing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the form of the Seawolf 400 AUV. Together, this is smart procurement. Submarines have five main tasks: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, strike and special forces insertion. I'm not including those designed to fire nuclear missiles. The first task; operating against well run nuclear submarines will undoubtedly be their greatest challenge. China has nine nuclear attack subs and six nuclear-missile ones . I spent some time in one of the Royal Navy's (then new) SSKs in the early 90s when they had just returned from exercising against the US Navy's newest nuclear submarine. Despite the endurance and speed limitations of an SSK, they achieved a number of 'kills', so it can be done. The presence of opposing SSKs will make it much harder for the Chinese to operate their ballistic missile submarines with impunity. Ten billion dollars is not a lot of money if it forces someone to change the way they operate their strategic deterrent. When running on batteries, SSKs are hard to detect. With the Japanese involved in the design, it's likely that this boat will have the){kind=link}
A heavyweight torpedo will ruin your day no matter how big you are
On 28 September, Taiwan launched its first domestically built submarine. Named the Hai Kun, it is a diesel-electric submarine (SSK) that looks to be based on the Japanese Soryu class with some design features carried over from Taiwan’s two Dutch built SSKs. Indications are that this is the first of eight to be built at a total cost of around 10 billion US dollars.
As a weapon system, it is almost perfect for what Taiwan needs. Cleverly combining ‘new’ with ‘tried and tested’ equipment, it is highly likely that these will be effective submarines from the off.
SSKs lack the legs of their nuclear powered brethren but also the crippling price tag and complex supporting infrastructure. Given the ranges at which they will be needed, i.e. inside the first island chain, nuclear propulsion would have been excessive. Taiwan is also developing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the form of the Seawolf 400 AUV. Together, this is smart procurement.
Submarines have five main tasks: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, strike and special forces insertion. I’m not including those designed to fire nuclear missiles.