The military is planning to build a submarine rescue vessel after the completion of its first domestically built submarine prototype, a Ministry of National Defense report said.
The project to build the submarine rescue ship would be implemented over a seven-year period — from next year to 2033 — at a cost of NT$13.2 billion (US$418.05 million), said the report titled Regulated Military Materials in the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2025, which was posted on the ministry’s Web site on Friday last week.
The funds would be allocated by the navy to build a vessel that would boost its submarine rescue capabilities, the report said.
Photo: CNA
Meanwhile, from next year to 2032, the navy is planning to build a second Panshih-class fast combat support ship at an estimated cost of NT$17.2 billion, the report said.
From 2028 to 2034, it is planning to build another Yushan-class amphibious landing platform dock at an estimated cost of NT$13.4 billion, it said.
The military also aims to construct 10 light frigates from 2028 to 2040 at a cost of NT$250 billion, and two rescue and salvage ships from next year to 2034 at a cost of NT$21.8 billion, the ministry said in the report.
The report was released a day after Taiwan’s first indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” began its long-awaited submerged tests.
The ministry had planned to complete all tests on the Hai Kun by September last year to meet a November delivery deadline, but the trials experienced some major delays.
When the Hai Kun is completed, a second submarine is scheduled to be built by next year, the ministry said.
The wider goal is to ensure that the navy has a total of four submarines by next year — the Hai Kun prototype and a second indigenous defense submarine, along with its two existing Chien Lung-class (Sword Dragon) submarines that were purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s, the ministry said.
Taiwan also has two World War II vintage submarines purchased from the US in the 1970s, but they are now used exclusively for training purposes.
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