South Korea has launched a newly developed KSS-III class missile submarine for its navy, marking a major milestone in the country’s indigenous naval modernisation programme.
The submarine is the first of the upgraded KSS-III variants being built for the Republic of Korea Navy. Construction began in March 2023, and following the installation of its full suite of systems, the vessel will undergo an extensive series of sea trials before delivery, scheduled for 2027.
Measuring 89 metres in length with a beam of 9.7 metres and a displacement of around 4,000 tonnes, the new KSS-III can reach speeds of up to 20 knots and has a range of 10,000 nautical miles per mission.
The submarine is equipped with KSS-III cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometres and 533 mm torpedoes, giving it the ability to strike both sea and land-based targets.
