First submarine export as S. Korea hands over vessel to Indonesia

Updated: 2017-08-03 09:57:59 KST

A Korean-built submarine rolls out to sea. Next stop: Indonesia.

This submarine, named 'Nagapasa' , is ready for a handover to Indonesia's Ministry of Defense at a shipyard in Geoje , a city in Gyeongsangnam-do province.

Nagapasa can travel for 19,kilometers, a round trip between Korea and Los Angeles, without making any stop at a port, and is also equipped with eight offensive torpedo tubes, along with other cutting-edge weaponry.

Indonesian Defense Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu ( ) said he is pleased with the submarine.

(INDONESIA)

"I am expecting that this 1,400-ton submarine will act as a key strategic weapon for our maritime security in Indonesia."

As Daewoo Shipbuilding & Engineering delivers this submarine to Indonesia, it marks the first submarine export by a Korean company. Daewoo took on a one.one-billion U.S. dollar contract in 2011 to provide Indonesia with three submarines, the other two of which are currently under construction.

(KOREAN)

"We believe that we can guarantee the cost of the technology we have invested in. We hope our technology can contribute to the Korean navy as well as continuing our partnership with the Indonesian navy."

The handover of the vessel is regarded as a Korean success in commercializing the technology which the country first received from Germany in 1988. In the space of just 30 years, Korea has developed its submarine industry to the extent that it is now a submarine exporting nation.

With the sale of these three vessels, Korea, joins an elite group of submarine exporting countries, including the U.K., France, Russia and Germany.

Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.