Taiwan conducts torpedo test from indigenous submarine

Taiwan's donestically developed submarine seen here at its sea trials. (CSBC Corporation)

Taiwan's CSBC Corporation has released a video showing the launch of at least two torpedoes from the Republic of China Navy's (RoCN's) first indigenous submarine, Hai Kun.

The footage provides the clearest indication to date that the submarine has progressed into its combat systems integration and validation phase.

In the video, published on CSBC's official YouTube channel on 6 May, the shipbuilder described the launch as part of the vessel's weapons systems verification process.

The footage depicts sequences consistent with torpedo ejections from the submarine, including underwater imagery of the weapon exiting a launch tube and leaving a wake trail.

CSBC did not disclose details of the munitions used or the parameters of the test. However, visual cues seen in the video strongly suggest that the two weapons fired were either drill or telemetry variants of the Mk 48 torpedo.

This assessment is based on livery applied to the torpedoes, and the fact that both rounds were recovered after the launches.

Hai Kun is Taiwan's first domestically built submarine and was developed by CSBC under the country's Indigenous Defence Submarine (IDS) programme.

The vessel was unveiled in September 2023 and is the lead boat in a planned class of eight submarines intended to modernise Taiwan's undersea deterrent amid heightened cross‑strait tensions.

The submarine has since progressed through a series of trials. In January 2026, CSBC confirmed that Hai Kun had successfully completed its maiden underwater trials, marking its first submergence under operational conditions.

Although detailed specifications have not been officially disclosed, Hai Kun is estimated to be about 70 m in length, with a displacement of roughly 2,500 tonnes.