Taiwan launched the first Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS), the future ROCS Hai Kung (SS-711), at a ceremony on September 28.
President Tsai Ing-wen called the launch ceremony at a CSBC Corp. Taiwan shipyard in Kaohsiung a “critical moment” in Taiwan’s effort to build its own submarines and achieve military independence.
According to the official explanation, “Hai” refers to “sea,”, whereas “Kung” elegantly refers to Taiwan. It also carries the connotations “huge,” “stealthy,” and “unpredictable,” making it an ideal moniker for a new class of attack submarine.
Cheng Wen-lon, chairman of CSBC Corp., Taiwan, believes that the IDS prototype has an advantage over the other submarines in service in Taiwan. The ship has pennant number “711” and an X-shaped rudder, unlike previous models’ cross-shaped rudder.
Another submarine is planned to be completed under the IDS program by 2027.
Both submarines will be deployed to defend the waters surrounding Taiwan and the region from Suao in Yilan to Yonaguni Island in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan, according to Huang Shu-kuang, the IDS program’s coordinator.
In addition to the two Chien Lung-class (Sword Dragon) submarines acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s, Taiwan’s Navy will have three combat-ready submarines by 2025 and four by 2027 as a result of domestic submarine construction.
In addition, Taiwan acquired two American-made World War II-era submarines for training purposes in the 1970s.