A rendering of South Korea's planned nuclear-powered submarine. (Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense)
SINGAPORE — South Korea has unveiled an initial roadmap for the development of nuclear powered submarines, with plans to introduce the first such vessel in the mid-2030s, according to its defense minister.
Ahn Gyu-back told reporters at the announcement of the roadmap today at the South Korean naval base at Jinhae in the south of the country that it was planning to “launch the first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s, and push ahead with development to enter operational service in the latter half of the 2030s or later.”
Meanwhile the US ally’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) published today what it called the “Basic Plan for the Development of Nuclear Submarines for the Republic of Korea” outlining the key aspects of the program.
The program, which has been designated the “Jang Bogo N Project,” will be developed and constructed domestically using indigenous technologies, including nuclear reactors and the future boats’ energy conversion system.
