Taiwan likely to acquire two key submarine technologies next month

ROC Central News Agency

12/02/2020 05:48 PM

Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) The head of the military's top research unit said Wednesday that Taiwan is likely to acquire two key components next month as part of its ongoing construction of the nation's first indigenous submarine.

Art Chang (張忠誠), president of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology made the comments when asked by lawmakers when Taiwan can obtain the two key components -- an integrated combat system and a digital sonar system -- from the United States.

Taiwan's state-run shipbuilder has officially begun construction of the country's first indigenous submarine at a ceremony in Kaohsiung presided over by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Nov. 24.

Reports, however, previously claimed that the U.S. had yet to issue export permits for two key components to Taiwan, which could hinder the project.

In response, Taiwan's navy said the deal concerning the two key components has been finalized and approved, and thus, the submarine's construction began on schedule.

Military sources had earlier told CNA that the technologies Taiwan needed to design and build its own submarines were color coded red, yellow and green, with red denoting technology such as the main diesel engine, torpedoes and missile systems, which Taiwan could not build on its own.

The yellow parts were difficult to obtain but could be made in Taiwan, while the green components were more likely to be made domestically, the sources said.

The two key components are color coded red and have to rely on foreign imports.

The indigenous submarine project was initiated by the government in 2016 to bolster the country's aging fleet of four submarines with eight new diesel-electric models, the first of which could enter service by 2025.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

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