Key Points – Taiwan has achieved a major defense milestone, successfully completing the first phase of sea trials for its inaugural domestically built submarine, the Narwhal.
-The diesel-electric submarine sailed from Kaohsiung on Saturday and completed its “floating navigation” tests on Tuesday, which validated its propulsion, radar, and ventilation systems.
-The Narwhal, part of a planned eight-boat fleet, is a key component of Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare strategy to deter a potential Chinese invasion.
-Equipped with a US-made Lockheed Martin combat system and Mark 48 torpedoes, the submarine is slated for final delivery to the Taiwanese Navy by the end of November 2025.
Taiwan Announces Maiden Trial of China-Deterrent Submarine
Taiwan has completed the maiden sea trial of its first domestically built submarine, marking a major milestone in the island’s long-standing efforts to modernize its military and bolster its ability to deter Chinese aggression.
The diesel-electric submarine, named Narwhal, part of the Hai Kun-Class, sailed from the southern port city of Kaohsiung on Saturday and successfully completed its first round of sea testing, known as the floating navigation phase, on Tuesday.
The test, confirmed by Taiwanese shipbuilding company CSBC Corporation, is the first of three phases and comes almost two years after the vessel was officially unveiled.
CSBC said that the results of the first test will now be analyzed, and adjustments will be made to its propulsion, radar, and ventilation systems before proceeding to submerged navigation trials.
The final phase of testing is then expected to wrap by September 30, with formal delivery of the submarine slated for the end of November.
Meet the Machine
The 80-meter-long submarine weighs between 2,500 and 3,000 tons and is equipped with combat systems developed by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin. The sub will be armed with U.S.-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes.
Taiwan’s Navy hopes to eventually field a fleet of eight of the new submarines, deploying at least two by the end of 2027. Officials also said this week that future models may be fitted with missile systems.
Originally scheduled for delivery in 2024, the Narwhal program has experienced several delays. The vessel’s price tag came to 49.36 billion New Taiwan dollars, equivalent to approximately $1.67 billion USD.
The project, launched in 2016, is part of a broader Taiwanese push to build its asymmetric warfare capabilities.
As Chinese aggression grows and the chances of an invasion appear to increase, Taiwan is building agile and mobile defense systems ranging from submarines to drones and truck-mounted missile launchers designed to protect the island from incoming Chinese assaults.
At present, Taiwan operates only two aging Swordfish-class submarines that were purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s.
Beijing, meanwhile, has rapidly expanded its navy to become the largest in the world, with fleets of nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers, and a growing arsenal of advanced ballistic missiles – not to mention its stealth fighter programs.
Notably, Taiwan’s domestic submarine program drew on technical expertise from multiple countries, including the United States and United Kingdom – a diplomatic success for the island nation as it aims to forge allies across the West.
However, political problems at home cast uncertainty on the future of the project, with Taiwan’s two main opposition parties, the Taiwan People’s Party and the Kuomintang, freezing a portion of the submarine program’s budget earlier this year.
With a Chinese invasion of Taiwan very much on the cards, any delays to the program now could leave Taiwan exposed.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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