Energetic growth of Taiwanese underwater capabilities

The submarine component of the Taiwanese navy currently consists of two boats from the Dutch Zwaardvis-class replica programme from the 1980s, not counting the two American Guppy-class boats from the Second World War era. Following the decision in 2014 to launch its own four-year development programme for six conventional 1,500-tonne Hai Kun-class (Narwhal) boats in the face of insufficient offers from the USA and Italy, the CSBC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation) in Kaohsiung (south-west coast) set up the necessary infrastructure. The newly elected President Tsai Ing-wen commissioned the construction of the prototype back in 2016. This was derived from the previous design of the Zwaardvis boats, but based on the latest findings from the Dutch Walrus class and with successively released cutting-edge technology from the USA. The boat was built in Kaohsiung from 2020 as the first of a series of eight with mainly Japanese, but also global technical support. SS-711 was christened "Hai Kun" and launched at the end of September 2023. Its trials are scheduled to begin in September, with commissioning planned for November 2025. Following the change of government at the end of May 2024 from Tsai, who had celebrated the project as "achieving the impossible" at the christening, to her successor William Lai Ching-te, the latter has picked up the thread and released the funding for the construction of the seven follow-up boats from 2025 to 2038. This is undoubtedly a major step for the defence of the island nation and sends a clear signal to the mainland. However, the usual doubters criticise the fact that the prototype has not yet been tested and that the early political decision is highly risky. However, Taiwan does not have time to wait for lengthy test phases - and the fact that Taiwan is capable of technology can be relied upon without question!