Taiwan's Indigenous Submarine Hai Kun Conducts Successful Torpedo Test
Taiwan's CSBC Corporation has released a video showcasing the launch of at least two torpedoes from the Republic of China Navy's first indigenous submarine, Hai Kun. This event marks a significant milestone in the submarine's development, indicating its progression into the combat systems integration and validation phase. The video, published on CSBC's official YouTube channel, depicts sequences consistent with torpedo ejections, including underwater imagery of the weapon exiting a launch tube. Although specific details about the munitions used were not disclosed, visual cues suggest the torpedoes were either drill or telemetry variants of the Mk 48 torpedo. The Hai Kun, unveiled in September 2023, is the lead vessel in a planned class of eight submarines under Taiwan's Indigenous Defence Submarine program, aimed at modernizing its undersea deterrent capabilities amid rising cross-strait tensions.