KSS-III submarine

ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho
Class overview
Builders
Operators Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN)
Preceded bySon Won-il class (Type 214 submarine)
CostUSD $900,000,000 per submarine[1]
Built2014–present[4]
In service2021–present[2]
Planned9[5]
Building1[6]
Completed3[3]
Active3[3]
General characteristics
TypeAttack and ballistic missile submarine
Displacement
  • Batch-I:-
  • 3,358 t (3,305 long tons) (Surfaced)[4]
  • 3,750 t (3,690 long tons) (Submerged)[4]
  • Batch-II:-
  • 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) (Surfaced)[8][9]
Length
  • Batch-I:-
  • 83.5 m (273 ft 11 in)[8][4]
  • Batch-II:-
  • 89.3 m (293 ft 0 in)[11][12]
Beam
  • Batch-I:-
  • 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)[8][4]
  • Batch-II:-
  • 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)[8][14]
Draught
  • Batch-I:-
  • 7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (surfaced)[22]
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (submerged)[22]
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi)[7]
Endurance20 days (submerged)[13]
Complement50[4]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
NotesFirst-ever AIP-equipped submarine capable of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).[20]

The KSS-III (Korean Submarine-III; Korean: 한국형 잠수함-III; Hanja: 韓國型潛水艦-III), officially called Dosan Ahn Changho class (Korean: 도산안창호급 잠수함; Hanja: 島山安昌浩級潛水艦; RR: Dosan-anchangho-geup Jamsuham) 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).[4] 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.[23]

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.[4][24]

A total of three submarines of the first batch of the series have been launched, with the first submarine, ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho, being commissioned on 13 August 2019.[2] The second ship, ROKS Ahn Mu, was commissioned on 20 April 2023.

  1. ^ James O. Campbell, Jr. (13 September 2020). "Seoul's Misguided Desire for a Nuclear submarine" (PDF). Npolicy.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "ROK Navy Commissions Her First KSS III Submarine". navalnews.com. 13 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Ahn_Mu_comm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "KSS-III (Jangbogo-III) Class Attack Submarines, South Korea". naval-technology.com. 21 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b "South Korean navy commissions first KSS-III-class, SLBM-capable submarine". Janes.com.
  6. ^ "South Korea launches Dosan Ahn Changho class submarine Shin Chae-ho". Navyrecognition.com. 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "HHI launches third KSS-III-class submarine for South Korean navy". Janes.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e "장보고-Ⅲ 배치(Batch)-Ⅱ 2번함 건조 착공". Defense Acquisition Program Administration. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. ^ "DSME kicks off construction of new KSS-III submarine for ROK Navy". Navaltodays.com. 31 December 2021.
  10. ^ Lee Jong-soo (2 October 2018). "연료전지시장 '빅뱅' 예고한 '범한산업'". Monthly hydrogen economy. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. ^ a b "장보고-III Batch-II급 잠수함 계약". Defense Acquisition Program Administration. October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  12. ^ "South Korea Begins Construction on 2nd KSS-III Batch-II Submarine". Navalnews.com. 2 January 2022.
  13. ^ "South Korea's KSS-III Batch 2 Submarine to Feature both AIP and Li-Ion Batteries". Navalnews.com. 18 June 2021.
  14. ^ "South Korea Begins Construction on 2nd KSS-III Batch-II Submarine". Navalnews.com. 2 January 2022.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sonar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference ReferenceE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ "LIG Nex1 on Track with New Tiger Shark Heavyweight Torpedo". navyrecognition.com. August 2018.
  19. ^ Smith, Josh (7 September 2021). "S.Korea tests first submarine-launched ballistic missile - Yonhap". Reuters.
  20. ^ a b "Game Changer: AIP Submarine Has Fired a Ballistic Missile for the First Time". navalnews.com. 7 September 2021.
  21. ^ "DSME contracted to build South Korean navy's second KSS-III 'Batch-II' submarine". Janes.com.
  22. ^ a b "MADEX 2021: Hanwha Defense presents its new technology of lithium-ion battery for submarines". Navyrecognition.com. 9 June 2021.
  23. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (18 June 2019). "South Korea's First-of-Class KSS-III Attack Sub Begins Sea Trials". Thediplomat.com. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  24. ^ "KSS-III (Jangbogo–III-class) diesel-electric attack submarine". Thediplomat.com.