Launch of 1st indigenous Hai Kun-class submarine by Taiwan Navy.

According to information published by Taiwan News on September 28, 2023, Taiwan launched the first Hai Kun-class submarine, also known as the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program.
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Launching ceremony of 1st Hai Kun class submarine. (Picture source: Twitter account of Taiwanese MoD)

Taiwan's naval fleet, inclusive of the 1980s Hai Lung-class and the historic US-built GUPPY-class that dates back to WWII, recognized the pressing need for modernization.

When endeavors to source foreign submarines faltered, Taiwan embarked on a domestic journey, underpinned by the Ministry of National Defense's 2014 proclamation of creating its diesel-electric attack submarines with U.S. collaboration.

This vision materialized into the Indigenous Defense Submarine program or "Hai Chang", initiated by the CSBC Corporation in Taiwan by 2016. The program witnessed a significant leap in 2018 with President Donald Trump's approval for technology transfers.

To enrich this initiative, Taiwan amalgamated knowledge from global experts, welcoming engineers and retired submariners from several nations, including the US and UK.

This was complemented by the UK's decision to amplify its submarine technology exports to Taiwan, substantially raising the investment trajectory since 2017.

Emerging from these concerted efforts is the Hai Kun-class submarine: a diesel-electric assault variant spanning roughly 70 meters and weighing in at about 2,500 tonnes.

One of its groundbreaking features is the Lithium-Ion battery technology, which prolongs its submerged operational durations, affording it superior evasion capabilities against adversaries using traditional batteries.

This submersible is also armed with the MK-48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology torpedoes and UGM-84L Harpoon missiles. Such an indigenous blueprint not only ensures the submarine aligns with Taiwan's specific maritime challenges, promoting stealth and efficacy, but by fostering local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, Taiwan simultaneously elevates fleet readiness and reduces foreign surveillance vulnerabilities.