Taiwan’s maiden indigenous submarine prototype will begin the final round of harbor acceptance tests (HAT) on Tuesday.
The Narwhal prototype will be moved to a floating dock before being shifted to a dry dock for the tests, the Central News Agency reported, citing sources.
These include an inclining test to determine the vessel’s stability and its center of gravity, the outlet added.
Tests to Finish This Year
The Narwhal has been undergoing HAT since October at a CSBC factory in Kaohsiung.
Afterward, it will undergo sea acceptance tests and be handed over to the Taiwanese Navy before the end of 2024.
Earlier, it was reported that the SAT would take place by May 20 — when the current term of President Tsai Ing-wen ends.
However, the outlet reported that no deadline had been set.
Eight Indigenous Subs to Be Built
President Tsai launched the vessel in September to bolster Taiwan’s defenses against China.
Eight indigenous submarines will be built to replace four older vesselswith the first expected to begin service in 2025.
$1.5 Billion Underwater Vessel
The $1.5 billion underwater platform has a displacement of 2,500 to 3,000 tons.
It features combat systems and torpedoes from Lockheed Martin.
“The submarine will have a fairly significant impact on Taiwan’s defense strategy,” said US-based independent analyst, Ben Lewis.
“The biggest risk is to the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army’s) amphibious assault and troop transport capabilities,” he told AFPreferring to China’s military.
“They have practiced extensively the use of civilian vessels to augment their existing troop delivery platforms, and a submarine could wreak havoc on vessels not designed for naval warfare.”
