Hanwha Ocean Begins Construction of Submarine with '10 SLBM Launch Tubes'

3600t-class Jangbogo Batch II No.3 Ship Keel Laying Ceremony

The keel-laying ceremony for the Jangbogo-III Batch-II third submarine was held at Hanwha Ocean in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam. The Batch-I class submarines are equipped with six submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) vertical launch tubes, while the Batch-II class is reported to have up to 10 launch tubes due to its increased length.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Jangbogo-III' project is a next-generation Korean submarine development program, and 'Batch' refers to a group of ships constructed of the same type. Performance improves progressively from Batch-I to II and III. The Batch-II 3,600-ton submarine is a diesel-powered submarine measuring 89 meters in length and 9.6 meters in width. It is larger in tonnage and about 5.5 meters longer than the Batch-I 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Changho and Anmu submarines. Additionally, the Batch-II class is equipped with combat and sonar systems that have improved detection and target processing capabilities compared to Batch-I. It also features lithium batteries with longer lifespans than the lead-acid batteries installed in Batch-I, enabling longer submerged operations and missions.

The Jangbogo-III Batch-II third submarine is scheduled to be completed by 2029, followed by sea trials, and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2031. Meanwhile, the keel-laying ceremony proceeded with a safety prayer reading for the safety of the site, followed by the cutting of steel plates to be used in submarine construction.