The navy today announced that after upgrading its stegosaurus-class submarines, it would conduct a large-scale joint sea and air anti-submarine exercise late this month involving P-3C aircraft and S-70C(M) helicopters.
The first of these submarines, the Sea Dragon (海龍), has completed sea trials, with its upgraded combat system performance meeting requirements, a military source said.
The other stegosaurus-class submarine, the Sea Tiger (海虎), is still having its combat system upgraded, so the upcoming exercise off Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District (左營) and southwest Taiwan would primarily feature the Sea Dragon, the source said.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
In addition, the indigenously developed Hai Kun (海鯤) submarine has completed multiple surface navigation tests and is preparing for submersion trials.
Whether the navy would test its underwater performance as a part of the upcoming anti-submarine exercise is a matter of keen public interest.
The Sea Dragon and Sea Tiger are the centerpieces of the navy’s underwater combat force, both acquired from the Netherlands in 1987 and in service for 38 years.
As they have already exceeded the typical service life of modern submarines, the navy has planned several upgrades to their electronic warfare system, long-range torpedoes and combat system to ensure they are appropriately enhanced before reaching the end of their service life.
The combat system upgrades are being carried out by the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology and foreign contractors, with a total budget of more than NT$7.4 billion (US$244 million).
The upgrades began in 2018 and would be completed by 2027, according to the navy’s plan.
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