On May 7th, the CSBC Corporation released the video of the first Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) for the Taiwanese Navy, Hai Kun (SS-711) conducting her crucial weapon system verification test.
The test itself was conducted on May 6th which involved the submarine launching two Mk48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology (AT) Heavy Weight Torpedoes from two of her six 533mm torpedo tubes and testing whether the combat system can detect and track the intended target(s) as well as generating a firing solution for the torpedoes and guide them towards the target(s). In the underwater camera shot released by CSBC Corporation during the launch, the wire of the Mk48 Mod 6AT is clearly visible after leaving the torpedo tube. The two torpedoes were a training variant.
Back in 2020, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of 18 MK 48 Mod 6AT Torpedoes and related equipment for an estimated cost of $180 million.
The two Mk48s fired by Hai Kun were subsequently recovered by the supporting vessels with the help of an S-70C(M) helicopter marking the positions of both torpedoes and the submarine returned to port after leaving the shipyard for approximately 12 hours. After this weapon trial, the CSBC will continue to calibrate and prepare the Hai Kun for dockside maintenance, paving the way for the other follow-on testing.
According to the original plan, the shipbuilder should deliver the first IDS to the Taiwanese Navy back in December 2025 but the delayed delivery of various foreign made sub-systems slowed down the integration works of Hai Kun. CSBC Corporation now aims to deliver the submarine to the Taiwanese Navy this July.