Article Posted on : - Sep 29, 2023

Taiwan's first indigenously-built submarine 'Narwhal' is scheduled to be commissioned into service in 2025. (Photo: Taiwan MoD/ Twitter)

TAIPEI (BNS): Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically-built submarine to bolster its underwater capability amidst increasing military threat from China.  

The conventional attack submarine – named ‘Narwhal’ – was officially unveiled in the southern Kaohsiung city of Taiwan on Thursday, Sept. 28.

President Tsai Ing-wen presided over a ceremony to mark the official launch of the new underwater platform.

“A fruit of our self-reliance defense policy and future underwater capability that guards our waters, Taiwan’s first indigenous defense sunmarine has been named ‘Narwhal’ and was christened by President Tsai @iingwen this morning,” Taiwan’s Defence Ministry announced on X.

Taiwan’s underwater fleet will go up to three once the latest platform ‘Narwhal’ is commissioned into service, scheduled in 2025. The Taiwanese Navy is presently operating two Hai Lung (Dragon) class submarines acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

The self-governing island plans to build at least eight conventional attack submarines indigenously over the next few years.