Taiwan Launches Project to Design and Produce its Own Submarines

: Posted On Friday, 02 January 2015 14:29

Naval Defense News - Taiwan

Taiwan Launches Project to Design and Produce its Own Submarines

AFP reported that Deputy Defence Minister of Taiwan, Chiu Kuo-cheng, told parliament on Monday the ministry has approved guidelines for the design contract for an Indigenous Defence Submarine. "This means the military has officially kicked off the self-built submarine project," legislator Lin Yu-fang, who sits on parliament's defence committee, said in a statement.

In December 2013 Taiwan's Navy Command Headquarters unveiled a 15-year upgrade plan for Taiwan's naval forces. The headquarters said at the time it has begun evaluating the feasibility of building submarines on its own, as the United States has yet to respond to Taiwan's requests to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines.

Hai Lung class submarine currently in service with the ROC Navy
(picture: ROC Navy)

Under a four-year contract, work on the design is slated to begin in 2016 and cost an estimated Tw$3 billion ($94.46 million). Preparatory work will begin in 2015 with an approved budget of Tw$10 million. It was unclear when work would start on building the submarines. Vice Admiral Hsiao Wei-min, also speaking in parliament, ruled out a recent suggestion from a US think tank that Taiwan could build a fleet of 42 120-ton mini-submarines.

Hsiao said that "at present the navy's demand is submarines ranging from 1,200-3,000 tons".

Chiu did not specify who was in line for the design contract. But military sources said it should be given to a team composed of Taipei-based Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center, the CSBC Corporation Taiwan and foreign technology advisers.

In April 2001 then-US president George W. Bush approved the sale of eight conventional submarines as part of Washington's most comprehensive arms package to the island since 1992.

Since then, however, there has been little progress. The United States has not built conventional submarines for more than 40 years and Germany and Spain have reportedly declined to offer their designs for fear of offending Taiwan's rival, China.

The Taiwanese navy currently operates two Hai Lung-class submarines — Taiwan’s only combat-ready subs — which were acquired from the Netherlands in the late 1980s.