South Korean Navy’s fourth 1,800-ton, 214-type submarine Kim Jwa-jin, named after the famous general, was launched on Tuesday at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in Geoje Island, Xinhua informs.
The launching ceremony was attended by the country’s President Park Geun-hye, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and other senior defence dignitaries.
The diesel-powered submarine, features a range of ship-to-land missiles and torpedoes and is envisaged to remain underwater for a couple of weeks without the need to emerge. What is more, the vessel is capable of taking a round trip from Seoul to Hawaii without having to stop for refueling.
The cutting-edge sub, slated for delivery in second half of 2014, will be capable of engaging in anti-ship, anti-air and anti- submarine warfare as well as ship-to-land precision strikes with cruise missiles.
It is expected for the Kim Jwa-jin to become fully operational and deploy for naval missions in 2015.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, August 15, 2013