South Korean submarine completes Pacific crossing ahead of Canada bid

May 5 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Navy said Tuesday its 3,000-ton-class submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho has completed the country's first independent trans-Pacific voyage, demonstrating long-range operational capability ahead of a major Canadian defense contract bid.

The submarine arrived Saturday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after departing from Jinhae Naval Base on March 25, marking the first time a South Korean submarine has crossed the Pacific Ocean on its own.

The deployment is part of a broader mission that includes joint naval exercises with Canada and participation in the multinational RIMPAC drills later this summer.

The submarine previously stopped at Guam in early April for maintenance and resupply before continuing its eastbound journey. The full route, extending to Canada's west coast, is expected to span about 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles), the longest operational voyage ever undertaken by a South Korean submarine.

Related

• South Korea stages joint amphibious drill in Pohang
• Japan to transfer retired naval vessels to Southeast Asia
• OP-ED: Iran nuclear crisis may shape North Korea policy

Officials said the vessel made extensive use of air-independent propulsion, allowing it to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing, a key factor in enhancing stealth and survivability.

The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is the lead vessel of South Korea's KSS-III Batch-I program and was commissioned in 2021. With a submerged displacement of about 3,700 tons and equipped with vertical launch systems capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles, it is considered a core strategic deterrent asset.

After completing logistics operations in Hawaii, the submarine is scheduled to sail to Esquimalt in British Columbia, where it will conduct joint exercises with the Canadian Navy.

The visit comes as Canada moves forward with its Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a program expected to be worth about 60 trillion won (approximately $44 billion) to replace its aging fleet. South Korea is among several countries competing for the contract.

Defense officials said the deployment effectively serves as a real-world demonstration of South Korea's submarine technology.

"Operating a submarine that has crossed the Pacific and conducting joint exercises alongside partner forces is itself a powerful demonstration," a defense industry official said.

The Navy said the mission underscores South Korea's transition from a coastal defense force to a blue-water navy capable of operating across global oceans.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260505010000566