Taiwan's first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” yesterday completed tests involving its propulsion, rudder, electricity, communication and navigation systems during its first day of floating navigation trials just outside the Port of Kaohsiung, its builder said late last night.
CSBC Corp, Taiwan said in a statement that it would fine-tune the systems based on the test results before moving on to the next stage of the submarine's sea trials.
The three stages of a submarine's sea trials are floating navigation, shallow depth testing and gradual depth increase testing, CSBC said.
Photo: CNA
In shallow depth testing, the submarine submerges to a shallow depth to test basic systems, the shipbuilder said.
During gradual depth increase tests, the submarine submerges further, testing systems at different pressures and depths to make sure the vessel can meet its combat needs, CSBC said.
Each of the three stages would feature several trials and adjustments to related systems, it added.
The navy and technicians involved with the parts and systems used in the prototype also took part in yesterday's trial, CSBC said.
The shipbuilder's statement confirmed what a military source said earlier in the day — that the Narwhal had begun sea trials after completing harbor acceptance tests, despite several delays.
Under the original timeline set by the Ministry of National Defense, the Hai Kun's sea trials were supposed to begin in April and be completed by Sept. 30 to meet a November delivery deadline.
Without directly confirming the delay, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said in an interview last month that the submarine's sea trials would only begin once all safety requirements were fully met.
Despite the delayed start to the sea trials, the contractual November deadline for the submarine to be delivered to the navy remained unchanged, navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) said yesterday.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
RSS