After the launch in February 2024 and the christening of the SS-711 "Hai Kun" (Narwhal, 80 metres, 2,550 - 3,000 tonnes), not much was heard or seen of the project for a nationally developed conventional submarine, which had begun with great vigour. Technical difficulties arose at the start of the harbour acceptance tests, which delayed the publicly visible sea acceptance tests until the beginning of May this year. Seven more boats are to follow in batches of three, two and another three units by 2038. In view of Taiwan's stock of older submarines, regeneration is urgently needed: Two Dutch Zwaardvis boats from 1988 (67 metres, 2,700 tonnes) - and two American Guppy boats (94 metres, 2,500 tonnes) from 1945. It is unclear whether the latter two are still operational, but they are probably still afloat - as training boats.