South Korean navy commissions first KSS-III-class, SLBM-capable submarine

The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has commissioned its first locally developed, diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK) capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Named Dosan An Chang-ho (pennant number SS 083), the 83.5 m-long boat, which is the RoKN's first of a planned fleet of nine KSS-III-class submarines, entered service in a ceremony held on 13 August at the facilities of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) at Okpo on Geoje Island.

Equipped with locally made lead-acid batteries and an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system featuring hydrogen fuel cells, Dosan An Chang-ho is expected to be operationally deployed from August 2022 after undergoing a series of operational performance and capability evaluations, according to an RoKN statement.

Fitted with noise-reduction technology, the submarine, which displaces 3,358 tonnes when surfaced and 3,705 tonnes when submerged, has a stated maximum speed of about 20 kt, a cruising range of 10,000 n miles, and can accommodate a crew of 50, according to Janes Fighting Ships .

Launched by DSME in September 2018, Dosan An Chang-ho , which has a beam of 9.6 m, is now the largest submarine in the RoKN's inventory: about 18 m longer and 3.3 m wider than the service's 1,800-tonne KSS-II-class boats.

It is equipped with an active and passive sonar suite from LIG Nex1, including bow cylindrical, flank, intercept, ranging, and towed arrays, as well as the Hanwha Systems Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS). It also features the Safran attack periscope and optronic mast, and the Indra Pegaso radar electronic support measurement (RESM) system.