DEFENSE / Hai Kun submarine conducts latest round of sea trials

Kaohsiung, June 1 (CNA) The Hai Kun (Narwhal), Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, departed from the Port of Kaohsiung on Monday morning for its latest round of sea trials that included dive tests.

According to the Military News Agency, the trial marked the submarine's 15th sea trial overall and ninth submerged-navigation test.

The tests came after a sea trial scheduled for May 29 was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan has been accumulating fines since missing a November 2025 deadline due to "testing delays," but indicated in February that it hopes to deliver the submarine to the Navy in June.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) reiterated Monday that testing would proceed according to established procedures, with safety and quality taking precedence and with the aim of meeting defense capability requirements.

Meanwhile, military expert Chi Tung-yun (紀東昀) said that testing requires the collection of key performance parameters, and that minimizing environmental variables helps ensure greater accuracy in the data obtained.

Chi said Hai Kun's upcoming tests will include the highly anticipated seaworthiness and deep-diving trials, including overnight evaluations.

If the submarine successfully completes those remaining tests, delivery could likely take place anytime between July and September, he added.