[Exclusive] Vertical launching system for attack subs developed

A 1,800-ton Type-214 submarine of the South Korean Navy sails in waters off Busan. The diesel-electric sub was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries with technical cooperation from HDW of Germany. After 2018 South Korea plans to build 3,000-ton heavy attack submarines equipped with vertical launching systems that allow a variety of weapons, including long-range cruise missiles, to be deployed. / Courtesy of ROK Navy

By Jung Sung-ki

Korea has developed a vertical launching system (VLS) to be installed on 3,000-ton heavy attack submarines to be deployed after 2018, according to a shipbuilding industry source, Monday.

Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering are subcontractors for the heavy attack submarines.

It is the first time that the development of a submarine VLS in Korea has been confirmed. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has already developed one used aboard the 7,600-ton KDX-III Aegis destroyer.

A VLS is a modern type of missile-firing system used aboard submarines and surface vessels of several navies around the world. When installed on an attack submarine, a VLS allows a greater number and variety of weapons to be deployed in comparison to using only torpedo tubes.

Following the development of the VLS for subs, top shipbuilders in Korea and the ADD are also on track to develop an indigenous horizontal tube to launch torpedoes, cruise missiles and mines, the source said.

“The development of a vertical launching system has already been completed, while the development of a horizontal launching system is still under way,” the source told The Korea Times, asking not to be identified. “Developing the horizontal launching tube requires more sophisticated technology than the VLS development.”

The VLS would be used in launching long-range cruise missiles at key targets in North Korea.

The ADD has developed the 500-kilometer-range, ship-launched Cheonryong, which is a modified variant of the surface-to-surface Hyunmoo III-A ballistic missile. The missile range could be extended up to 1,000 kilometers, according to military sources.

The Cheonryong missiles are believed to have already been modified to be installed on Type-214 subs.

South Korea has successfully developed the Hyunmoo III-C surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a maximum range of 1,500 kilometers, following the deployment of the 1,000-kilometer-range Hyunmoo III-B.

With the VLS development, Korea would have an advantage in selling its submarines overseas in the future, the source added.

Currently, the South operates nine 1,200-ton, Type-209 submarines and three 1,800-ton, Type-214 submarines. They are all diesel- and electric-powered and were all built with technical cooperation from HDW of Germany.

As Germany restricts the transfer of key submarine technology, such as launching tubes, Korea would have difficulty exporting any of those locally-built submarines.

The Navy plans to deploy at least three more Type-214 submarines in the years to come.

Beginning in 2018, Seoul plans to build 3,000-ton KSS-III submarines fitted with domestically-built submarine combat systems aimed at automating target detection, tracking, threat assessment and weapons control.

The heavy attack sub will be armed with indigenous ship-to-ground cruise missiles and be capable of underwater operations for up to 50 days with an upgraded Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.

[단독] 중형 잠수함 수직발사대 개발 완료

정성기 기자

2018년 이후 건조되는 차기 중형 잠수함에 탑재될 국산 수직 발사대가 개발 완료 된 것으로 확인됐다.

KSS-III(장보고 3)라 불리는 3,000톤급 공격형 잠수함은 현재 현대중공업과 대우조선해양이 공동으로 설계하고 있다.

조선업계 관계자에 따르면 이미 국방과학연구소 주도로 잠수함 수직발사대는 개발이 완료됐고 수평발사대 역시 개발 중인 것으로 알려졌다.

이 관계자는 “수직 발사대는 이미 개발됐고 수평발사대는 좀 더 고난도의 기술이 요구되기 때문에 아직 완성하지는 못한 상태”라고 언급했다.

국방과학연구소는 이미 7,600톤 세종대왕함 급 이지스 구축함에 탑재되는 수상함 수직발사대는 개발을 마치고 전력화 한 상태다.

수직발사대는 잠수함과 수상함에 장착돼 어뢰를 포함한 다양한 무기체계를 발사하는 체계이다. 공격 잠수함에 탑재될 경우 장거리 순항 미사일 발사가 가능하다.

우리나라는 이미 현무 탄도 미사일을 개량한 사거리 500키로의 ‘천룡함대지 순항 미사일을 개발한 상태다. 군 소식통에 의하면 성능 개량이 될 경우 국산 중형잠수함에 사거리 1,000키로의 순항 미사일도 장착 가능하다.

국산 수직발사대 개발은 향후 잠수함 수출에도 희소식이 될 전망이다.

현재 한국 해구는 독일 HDW사로부터 기술이전 받아 건조한 1,200톤급 209잠수함과 1,800톤급 214잠수함을 운용 중이다.

하지만 수직발사대를 포함 핵심 무장체계는 기술이전을 받지 못해 수출시 걸림돌이 될 수도 있다는 우려가 컸다.

2018년 건조 시작될 3,000톤급 장수함은 국내 개발된 잠수함 전투체계가 탑재되고 천룡을 비롯한 국산 미사일이 탑재 예정이다. 최신형 AIP시스템을 탑재하고 최장 50일까지 수중 작전이 가능하다.

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