Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) – the world’s largest shipbuilder based in Ulsan, South Korea – recently showcased its delivery of the Shin Chae-ho, a KSS-III class diesel-electric submarine to the South Korean Navy.

KSS-III includes the development of nine attack submarines built in three batches as part of South Korea’s indigenous submarine production programme.

The first and second hulls of Batch-I were built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), while the third – Shin Chae-ho – was constructed by HHI.

Batch-II will include three submarines, with some design changes from the Batch-I hulls. The remaining three submarines will form Batch-III and feature even more advanced technologies.

According to GlobalData intelligence, Batch-I alone will cost the Navy just over $1bn over the next ten years.

Shin Chae-ho is the first 3,000 tonne submarine that HHI designed and built independently and delivered on time. “This has been possible due to the full support and co-operation from DAPA [South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration] and the Korean Navy,” HHI said in a statement during the delivery on 4 April 2024. “The company has been gaining more attention in terms of shipbuilding technologies and business management capabilities as it has been successful in delivering battleships on time from the Ulsan class Cheonan and Chuncheon frigates, to today’s Shin Chae-ho.”

KSS-III Batch-I submarines are fitted with six vertical launch system tubes and eight 533-millimetre torpedo tubes. The boats are also capable of carrying cruise and ballistic missiles.

They are also are equipped with Safran Electronics & Defense’s new generation electro-optical surveillance masts, which feature high image resolution and processing capabilities.

As part of the ceremony, 20 representatives from nine other countries attended the event including Michael L. MacDonald, member of the Canadian Senate; Michael Jacobson, Director General Submarines of the Royal Australian Navy; Paul Duclos, Peru Ambassador to Korea, all of whom had the chance to see various Korean battleships in person.

Such promotional work serves to tap into a larger consumer base as HHI’s offerings may suit other navies, including Poland and Peru, which has recently opted for HHI submarines.