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Naval
Forces News - South Korea |
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South
Korea's DAPA Selects DSME for KSS-III Batch II Heavy Submarine Design
& Construction |
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South
Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced
today that Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) was selected
as contractor for “KSS-III Batch-II Design and construction of
the first hull”. |
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Keel laying ceremony of the first KSS-III submarine at DSME Geoje shipyard.
Picture: DSME |
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Under the Jangbogo III programme, the first submarine is due to be launched
in 2018 and handed over to the Republic of Korea Navy at the end of
2020 following two years of sea trials. The second submarine will be
delivered at the end of 2022. KSS-III is expected to be produced in
three batches: » Batch-I consists in the first two hulls to be built by DSME. Remaining tender for the third hull will be released in late 2016. » Batch-II will consist in three hulls with some design changes. They will be fitted with a greater deal of South Korean technology. » Batch-III will consists in the three remaining hulls (for a total of nine KSS-III submarines across all batches). The last submarine is expected to be delivered in 2029. The first steel cutting ceremony for the first Batch-I vessel was held in November 2014 and the keel laying took place last week. The original Batch-I design of the submarine includes 6x VLS (vertical launch system) tubes. They would accomodate a future cruise missile in development by LIG Nex1 while the launchers would be provided by Doosan. It was announced earlier in the program that Spanish company INDRA was selected to provide its electronic defense system (ESM) PEGASO and Babcock of the UK would design and manufacture the Weapon Handling System for the Batch-I submarine. It was officialy announced during Euronaval 2014 that Sagem would supply the optronic masts for the class. Flank array sonars will be provided by Korean company LIG Nex1. Hanwha Thales contacted Navy Recognition by email to explain they would supply KSS-III's combat management system. The submarine will be fitted with south korean lithium-ion battery technology. |
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 KSS-III
is a 3000 tons SSK submarine project fitted with 6x VLS (vertical launch
systems) |
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The
North Korean SLBM launch last month led South Korea's Ministry of National
Defense to disclose some details on the KSS-III Batch-II plan ahead
of contract announcement. On April 25, there was a Congressional Hearing session held immediately after North Korea's SLBM launch, which raised some important questions about the ROK Navy's submarine capabilities to counter this threat. In response to questions whether ROK Navy was currently developing capabilities to counter SLBM threat, the ministry confirmed that KSS-III Batch-II will undergo redesign process before construction (lasting until December 30, 2018) to accommodate some important capability upgrades. These upgrades will give the Batch-II Submarines better capabilities at both attacking strategic land-based facilities and performing anti-submarine warfare. Expected changes of Batch-II compared to Batch-I: » Lengthened hull (bringing displacement approx. from 3000t to 4000t) » Increase of VLS cells from 6 to 10 » Indigenous combat system and sensors » LiB and, potentially, High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) motor for integrated full electric propulsion system Detailed specifications of KSS-III (Jangbogo 3) Batch-I: Full-length 83.5m Beam 9.6m Pressure sensor diameter 7.7m Draught 7.62m Crew: 50 sailors M aximum speed: 20 knots Cruising range" 10,000 nm Surface tonnage: 3358 tons Submerged tonnage: 3705 tons |
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South Korea's DAPA Selects DSME for KSS-III Batch II Heavy Submarine Design & Construction
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