No big surprises so far. Although if the South Korean 3,000 tonne, KSS-III has Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that may beat the latest Japanese Soryu (27SS) - with this Soryu likely to be launched in October-November 2018 (see Table). The extra specifications are in red, below.
Pete has bolded specification in the following South Korean Yonhap News Agency article published September 14, 2018, which reports:
"(LEAD) South Korea launches 3,000-ton homegrown submarine"
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More details, especially of the KSS-III's propulsion and missiles, are likely to follow in several weeks-months.
Pete
Pete has bolded specification in the following South Korean Yonhap News Agency article published September 14, 2018, which reports:
"(LEAD) South Korea launches 3,000-ton homegrown submarine"
"SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea held a launching ceremony Friday September 14] for a 3,000-ton indigenous submarine, a new strategic weapons system designed to bolster underwater defense capabilities.
The ceremony for the diesel-electric air-independent propulsion submarine, named after a prominent South Korean independence fighter, Dosan Ahn Chang-ho [making it the KSS-III, KSS-3 or Changbogo-III or Jangbogo-III class], took place at the Okpo Shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. on the southern island of Geoje.
The ceremony was attended by 350 people, including government and military officials and employees of the shipbuilder, the Navy said.
"The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine is the Navy's first mid-class submarine and has been built with a combination of cutting-edge technologies," the Navy said in a press release. "This is a national strategic weapons system capable of responding to all threats, and it will help strengthen the Navy's defense capabilities."
While the country's existing 1,200-ton and 1,800-ton submarines were built with technological assistance from Germany defense firms, the latest submarine has been domestically designed, and 76 percent of its component parts were made by Korean businesses.
While the country's existing 1,200-ton and 1,800-ton submarines were built with technological assistance from Germany defense firms, the latest submarine has been domestically designed, and 76 percent of its component parts were made by Korean businesses.
The new 83.3-meter-long, 9.6-meter-wide [KSS-III is] capable of carrying 50 crew members is equipped with six vertical launching tubes capable of firing submarine-to-ground ballistic missiles [making KSS-III a conventionally powered ballistic missile submarine "SSB"] and can operate underwater for 20 days without surfacing, officials explained.
It is set to be delivered to the Navy in December 2020 after tests. Its operational deployment is slated for January 2022. It costs around 1 trillion won [US$1 billion] per unit.
The construction of the new submarine is part of South Korea's project to domestically build the 3,000-ton Changbogo-III submarine. The project, worth 3.33 trillion won (US$2.97 billion), was launched in 2007 and is set to end in 2023."
COMMENT - LIKELY EXTRA KSS-III SPECIFICATIONS
The KSS-III may weigh 3,000 tonnes (surfaced) and 3,500 tonnes (submerged).
Its Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) is likely around four German HDW/Siemens PEM fuel cells (each of 120 kW).
Likely to have 3 or 4 MTU 396 or MTU 4000 diesels.
One electric motor of the German Siemens Permasyn type, perhaps driving a seven bladed skewback propeller
The US (perhaps Lockheed Martin and perhaps through subcontractors to reduce political sensitivity) is likely to have assisted with hardware and Combat System software elements of the six Vertical Launch Tubes for ballistic missiles.
It is unknown whether this first KSS-III carries traditional Lead-acid batteries or new Lithium-ion batteries. Even if this first KSS-III has Lead-acid batteries subsequent batches of KSS-IIIs may have Lithium-ion (perhaps permitting 30 days submerged).
The submarine appears to have a two deck hull and sail of a stretched Type 214 (of which South Korea's KSS-II - Son Won-Il is a variant). Hydroplanes on sail are similar to the TKMS Type 212A.
The lower photo gives a better look at the shrouded propeller. Also the rudder configuration appers to be cruciform like the Type 214 (so far with no X-plane rudders). Cruciform rudders promote stability during vertical launch missile firing. Lower photo originally at defence-blog.)
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More details, especially of the KSS-III's propulsion and missiles, are likely to follow in several weeks-months.
Pete