Taiwan has successfully conducted the maiden torpedo test firing for its first domestically developed submarine, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to bolster deterrence against the Chinese navy. The move is crucial for safeguarding vital sea lanes should a conflict arise.
Submarine Programme Progress
The self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own territory, has prioritised its indigenous submarine programme as a core component of an ambitious military modernisation drive. This initiative comes as China escalates its military presence, conducting almost daily exercises to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
The submarine project has notably benefited from international expertise and technology, including contributions from the United States and Britain. This collaboration represents a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan, whose government firmly rejects Beijing's territorial assertions.
CSBC Corp, the Taiwanese company spearheading the construction of what is planned to be a fleet of eight submarines, confirmed on Thursday that the first vessel, named the Narwhal, carried out its initial torpedo test the previous day. The company stated that the test successfully verified the combat system's operational capabilities, encompassing detection, tracking, fire control, launch, and torpedo guidance. This follows the submarine's first underwater sea trial, which took place in January.
Future Plans and Challenges
Taiwan has said it hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles. The first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.57 billion), will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp and carry US-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes.
The CSBC statement did not say what kind of torpedoes were test-fired. The Narwhal had been due to be delivered to the navy in 2024, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s, but the programme has been hit with delays.
Taiwan's armed forces are dwarfed by those of China, which has three operational aircraft carriers and several nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and is developing stealth fighter jets.
