Taipei: Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that meeting the November deadline for the delivery of an indigenous submarine prototype, being constructed by a local shipbuilder, poses “extremely challenging” obstacles. “We still have full confidence that the submarine will be successfully built, but the necessary tests and fine-tuning will take time,” Koo informed reporters regarding the progress of the prototype known as the Narwhal or Hai Kun.

According to Focus Taiwan, pre-sea trial tests are currently underway for the prototype. This information was shared during a closed-door session of the Legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, where lawmakers received updates on the Hai Kun project. Given the early stages of the testing, Koo noted that delivering Taiwan’s first indigenous submarine by the November deadline remains a significant challenge.

Following the legislative session, the Navy released a statement indicating that the prototype trials have so far been limited to three rounds at shallow depths. The Navy is collaborating closely with CSBC Corp., Taiwan, the builder of the prototype, to focus on the Hai Kun’s power management system and its integrated platform management system.

The builder outlined the three stages of a submarine’s sea trials: surface navigation, shallow-depth testing, and gradual-depth increase testing. The shallow-depth testing involves submerging the submarine to a limited depth to test fundamental systems. During the gradual-depth increase tests, the submarine submerges further to evaluate its systems under various pressures and depths, ensuring it meets combat requirements, as explained by CSBC.

Meanwhile, Koo addressed the media on Monday about the development of a “T-dome” missile defense system. Announced by President Lai Ching-te during his National Day speech, the system aims to integrate Taiwan’s existing drone, radar, and anti-missile systems to form a highly efficient, multi-layered interception web against enemy missiles and aircraft.

The Ministry of National Defense had set a timeline for the Narwhal’s sea trials to begin in April and conclude by September 30, in anticipation of a November delivery. Under the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) project, a second submarine is planned for completion by 2027. The objective is for Taiwan’s Navy to possess four submarines by 2027, including the Hai Kun prototype, a second IDS, and two existing Chien Lung-class submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s. Additionally, Taiwan has two World War II-era submarines acquired from the United States in the 1970s, now used solely for training purposes.