Taiwan’s first domestically-built submarine faces further delays as sea trials continue past the November delivery deadline, defence minister confirms
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s first domestically-built submarine has missed its scheduled delivery deadline.
Defence Minister Wellington Koo confirmed on Monday that ongoing sea trials have prevented the vessel’s handover, which was originally targeted for the end of November.
The submarine is a key part of a programme launched in 2016 aiming to build a fleet of eight vessels to bolster the island’s defences.
Taiwan seeks to upgrade its military capabilities to deter China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and has not ruled out using force.
Sea trials for the new submarine began in June, nearly two years after its initial unveiling.
The navy had previously stated that testing was supposed to be wrapped up by September 30, with delivery following by November’s end.
“All the sea trials were supposed to be completed by the end of November, but in fact that is no longer achievable,” Koo told lawmakers.
He emphasised that all procedures are based on safety assessments, adding, “there’s no rush to meet any specific month.”
A spokesperson for the shipbuilder, CSBC Corp, also confirmed the delay.
The submarine programme has faced numerous obstacles since its inception.
Koo admitted in October that the original construction timeline had been unrealistic.
“In practice, we face many difficulties, especially given our own circumstances, including equipment issues and delays in scheduling the manufacturers’ technical personnel,” he said.
The submarine is 80 metres long with a displacement of 2,500 to 3,000 tons.
Its combat systems and torpedoes are sourced from the US defence company Lockheed Martin.
The main opposition Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People’s Party, which together control parliament, froze part of the programme’s budget earlier this year.
They stated they wanted to see the results of the sea trials before releasing further funds.
Taiwan’s navy currently operates just two working submarines, both Dutch-built Swordfish-class vessels purchased in the 1980s.
Over the same period, China has built one of the world’s largest navies, complete with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. – AFP
