Taiwan’s Indigenous Submarine “Hai Kun” Delivery Delayed

Taiwan’s First Indigenous Submarine “Hai Kun (SS-711)” Delivery Delayed

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Dec 2, 2025 - : 9:34 am

Taiwan’s path to acquiring a domestically built submarine has hit a significant milestone — but one now marked by delay. According to recent statements by Minister of National Defence Wellington Koo, the first submarine constructed by CSBC Corporation (CSBC Corp),...

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Sea trials for the submarine, which commenced in June 2025 after nearly two years since its unveiling, were supposed to conclude by 30 September. The navy had planned to deliver the submarine by the end of November. However, Koo told lawmakers on 1 December that sea trials were still ongoing and formally acknowledged that meeting the deadline was “no longer achievable.” A spokesperson for CSBC confirmed the delay.

A Submarine Born From Strategic Imperatives

The Hai Kun is a central pillar of Taiwan’s ambition to develop an eight-vessel submarine fleet — a project launched in 2016 amid intensifying military pressure from the neighbouring giant, People’s Republic of China. Measuring approximately 80 metres in length and displacing some 2,500–3,000 tonnes, the diesel-electric submarine is equipped with combat systems and torpedoes sourced from the US firm Lockheed Martin.

The lead-submarine’s construction marked a historic moment in Taiwan’s defence-industrial capabilities. The vessel, named “Hai Kun” in Mandarin and “Narwhal” in English, was first unveiled in late 2023, after years of planning and development at CSBC’s shipyard in Kaohsiung.

CSBC and Taiwan’s defence establishment have publicly emphasised that delays result from unresolved technical and logistical hurdles — including sourcing foreign-made components, coordinating with international suppliers, and scheduling foreign technical personnel for equipment installation and tuning.

Political Underpinnings and Budgetary Pressure

The setback comes at a delicate political juncture. Earlier in 2025, Taiwan’s opposition parties — Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) — froze part of the submarine programme’s budget pending the outcome of sea trials. The freezing reflects concerns over fiscal discipline, project execution, and accountability.

Moreover, delaying the lead submarine adds uncertainty to Taiwan’s broader IDS schedule. The original goal was to have a fleet of eight submarines in the coming years — a force that could significantly shift the undersea balance in the Asia-Pacific. But repeated delays and budget freezes raise doubts over whether the timetable remains realistic.

Strategic Implications for the Asia-Pacific Region

The delivery delay of Hai Kun carries broader implications beyond Taipei. For Taiwan, the delay reduces the immediate pressure on its existing ageing fleet — two “Swordfish-class” submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s — but also prolongs a vulnerable gap in undersea deterrence.

For the wider Asia-Pacific region, the delay underscores the complexity and risks inherent in indigenous submarine development. As nations across the region — from Southeast Asia to the Indo-Pacific — consider expanding or modernising their submarine fleets, Taiwan’s experience illustrates the challenges of local production, integration of foreign systems, and political-budgetary constraints.

At a time when many governments are pursuing asymmetric warfare capabilities and sea-denial strategies, especially amid maritime disputes and great-power competition, the actual in-service emergence of platforms like Hai Kun will matter. Until then, delays like this may influence decision-making across the region about whether to build, buy, or lease submarines.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Hai Kun and the IDS Programme

CSBC and Taiwan’s navy have committed to completing all remaining sea-trial phases — including submerged navigation at increasing depths, system calibrations, and safety checks — before delivery. As Koo emphasised, safety remains the priority, not adherence to a fixed date.

Observers will be watching closely to see whether Taiwan can meet a revised delivery timeline. They will also watch whether the budget freeze is lifted once system validation is complete — a key factor determining whether the rest of the planned submarine fleet moves forward on schedule. In turn, the evolution of Taiwan’s IDS programme may shape broader regional calculations about undersea force structure, deterrence, and resilience in the years ahead.