The submarine was launched last Wednesday during an official ceremony attended by more than 200 distinguished guests, including the South Korean Navy's Chief of Naval Operations, as well as senior military officials and representatives from the country's defense industries.
This submarine is the first of the modified KSS-III submarines being developed by South Korea for its naval fleet. Construction began in March 2023, and after its equipment is completed, it will undergo a series of tests before being delivered to the military in 2027.
The modified second-class submarines are slightly larger than the regular KSS-III submarines and feature more advanced equipment. 5,800 of these are manufactured in South Korea, including lithium-ion batteries.
The new submarine is 89 meters long, 9.7 meters wide, and has a displacement of approximately 4,000 tons. It can sail at a speed of 20 knots, covering 10,000 nautical miles per mission. It is armed with KSS-III missiles with a range of 500 kilometers and 533 mm torpedoes.
