S.Korea Begins Construction of 2nd Changbogo-III Batch-II Submarine

South Korea has started building the second 3,600-ton Changbogo-III (KSS-III) Batch-II class submarine with improved ballistic missile capabilities for the Navy.

This 89-meter-long and 9.6-meter-wide submarine boasts advanced combat capabilities and sonar systems. It is  will also be partially powered by the lithium battery, allowing it to carry out longer missions underwater.

This vessel will be built by 2026 and handed over to the Navy in 2028, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

It most likely has 10 vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), up from six equipped in the 3,000-ton Batch-I submarines.