Seoul's arms procurement agency announced on Wednesday December 26, 2018 that Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering completed the pilot design of the Jangbogo III-class Batch-II (also known as KSS-III) submarine.
Launch of the Jangbogo-III Batch-I. (Picture source: Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering)
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) had been trusted with the KSS-III Batch-II design and the construction of the first hull in May 2016. The 3,000-ton submarine is expected to conduct longer-duration and faster undersea operation as it will be equipped with a lithium battery developed in South Korea. According to Yonhap News, advanced combat tools and sonar should also "enhance its target detection capabilities and overall survivability."
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) declared the production of the next generation submarine, whose component parts were mainly built in Korea, should start mid-2019.
