KSS-III Batch-II Submarine

May 30, 2023

South Korea has recently come up with a special proposal to provide its advanced KSS-III Batch-II submarine to India.

About KSS-III Batch-II Submarine:

  • The KSS-III, the largest submarine to ever be built by South Korea, is being developed in two phases, Batch-I and Batch-II.
  • It is a series of diesel-electric attack submarines.
  • KSS-III Batch-II is an advanced version of its predecessor in terms of combat management systems, firepower, and sonar capabilities.
  • It is jointly developed by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
  • Features:
    • The submarine will be 89 metres long, 9.6 metres wide, and have a displacement of around 3,600 tonnes.
    • The Batch-II series will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which will reportedly make it capable of cruising at higher speeds with a greater period of underwater endurance, life expectancy, and durability.
    • Additionally, the submarines will be equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology that will allow them to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen.
    • It will also be capable of carrying a crew of 50 members.
    • It can fire missiles such as Hyunmoo-4-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).
    • The submarines can attain a maximum operating speed of approximately 20 knots and cruising range of 10,000 nmi.
    • The navigation aids on board the submarine include an inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS).