CSBC aims to deliver first submarine prototype before end of June

Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan said Friday it aims to deliver the first domestically built submarine prototype, Hai Kun, before the end of June, after the vessel carried out its fourth submerged test earlier the same day.

Speaking to reporters, CSBC Chairman Chen Jeng-horng (陳政宏) said the prototype, known in English as Narwhal, will undergo numerous submerged tests, with each dive gradually reaching greater depths.

Responding to media reports that the company expects to deliver the submarine to the Navy by the end of June, Chen said such estimates are reasonable, adding that the company will coordinate with the Navy's requirements.

He noted that the delivery is already overdue and the goal is to hand it over as soon as possible.

As this is the first time CSBC has built a submarine, safety and quality standards must be fully met, Chen said, adding that there is also extensive documentation to prepare for delivery, which is currently still in progress.

The submarine departed Kaohsiung Harbor at around 9 a.m. Friday for its fourth submerged test, drawing a crowd of military enthusiasts waving banners in support of Taiwan's indigenous program.

CSBC President Tsai Kun-tsung (蔡坤宗) said that during the trials, Hai Kun's snorkel mast and periscope reached depths of around 10 to 20 meters.

The submarine has already dived well beyond that, to several dozen meters in previous trials, Tsai said, indicating that the successful dives demonstrate the vessel's watertight integrity.

The difference between shallow and deep dives, he said, lies in the pressure hull's tolerance, which is accounted for in the design. As long as the submarine stays within its design depth, there should be no issues.

Regarding its weapons systems, Tsai said the first prototype, Hai Kun, used torpedo tubes imported from abroad, though details cannot be disclosed. He added that torpedo tubes for later submarines will be domestically produced, but specifics also remain confidential.

Details cannot be disclosed further, as subcontractors could face repercussions from China, such as losing the ability to take orders there, he said.

According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), all tests on the Hai Kun were originally scheduled for completion by September last year to meet a November 2025 delivery deadline, but the trials experienced significant delays.

Regarding penalties for the delayed delivery, Tsai said the daily fine is about NT$190,000 (US$5,995), noting that if the submarine is delivered by the end of June, the delay will total roughly 210 days, resulting in fines of more than NT$38 million.

He added that the company has already accounted for the expected loss in its January accounts and stressed that completing the submarine safely and with high quality as soon as possible will benefit both the nation and CSBC.