South Korea’s naval arsenal obtained a brand new addition because the Shin Chae-ho, a domestically produced 3,000-ton diesel-electric assault submarine, was formally handed over to the Navy on April 4, 2024.
Named after a revered Korean independence activist, Shin Chae-ho represents a vital part of South Korea’s protection technique, notably inside the framework of the Kill Chain system designed to thwart potential nuclear threats from North Korea.
This supply marks the fruits of the KSS-III Batch-I program, a major milestone for South Korea’s naval capabilities. The Shin Chae-ho joins its predecessors, the Dosan Ahn Changho and Ahn Mu, as a part of the KSS-III Batch 1 submarines, solidifying South Korea’s underwater protection capabilities.
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Like its predecessors, the Shin Chae-ho is supplied with superior know-how, together with the capability to launch ballistic missiles, additional bolstering South Korea’s deterrent capabilities within the area.
Wanting forward, the KSS-III program is about to evolve with the graduation of the KSS-III Batch-II program, which can introduce bigger submarines with extra Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. Building of the lead boat for this new batch commenced in March 2023 on the Hanwha Ocean shipyard, with commissioning anticipated by 2026.