First Taiwan-made submarine Hai Kun on track for April sea trials, defence ministry says

Taiwan will begin sea acceptance testing (SAT) of its first locally built submarine prototype in April, marking a critical step in bolstering undersea combat capabilities as Beijing steps up military pressure on the island.

Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the submarine, named Hai Kun, or Narwhal, will proceed with the sea trials as scheduled, dismissing concerns about delays in earlier phases of testing.

Unveiled in September 2023, the prototype entered its harbour acceptance test (HAT) phase in November. While the SAT is set for April, local media reports suggest that the HAT process has encountered unexpected challenges.

Reports cite instability in the shore-based power supply, causing voltage fluctuations that damage multiple subsystem components. The vessel’s optical-electronic periscope system is also reported to have experienced hydraulic instability, requiring ongoing calibration. Both factors are potentially contributing to delays.

The defence ministry rejected the reports on Tuesday. “There are no issues with unstable shore power voltage, and the submarine’s battery installation is proceeding as planned,” ministry spokesman Sun Li-fan said.

Certain components may need to be replaced during testing, but this was “a normal part of the process”, Sun said, emphasising that “based on the navy’s assessment, the next phase [SAT] will proceed according to the planned timeline”.

  

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