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Context

• In a recent move, South Korea has come up with a special proposal to provide its advanced KSS-III Batch-II submarine to India, opening up the possibility of a purchase for the country.
• The proposal comes at a time when Germany is about to complete India’s submarine acquisition programme, Project 75I.

Details

• The KSS-III Batch-II submarine is an advanced version of its predecessor in terms of combat management systems, firepower, and sonar capabilities.
• The KSS-III submarine, also classified as the Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines - is a series of diesel-electric attack submarines currently being built for the Republic of Korea Navy.
• The KSS-III is the final phase of the Korean Attack Submarine program, a three-phased program to build 27 attack submarines for the ROKN, between 1994–2029.
• The KSS-III, the largest submarine to ever be built by South Korea, is being developed in two phases, Batch-I and Batch-II.

Developer of the KSS-III submarine

• Jointly developed by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the KSS-III submarine is a series of diesel-electric attack submarines.

Advantages of the Batch-II series

• The Batch-II series, which has been offered to India, is the second stage of the KSS-III programme, and it is known to have many advantages over the Batch-I series (Dosan Ahn Changho-class) in terms of design, armament, and automation.
• As per Batch-II design, the submarine will be 89 metres long, 9.6 metres wide, and have a displacement of around 3,600 tonnes.
• The second batch of the submarine will include a more advanced combat management system, sonar system, and firepower due to additional vertical launchers (VLS).
• The advanced features of the submarine will make it capable of carrying a large number of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) also known as the derivatives of Hyunmoo missiles, in a rough war situation.
• The Batch-II series will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which will reportedly make it capable of cruising at higher speeds with a greater period of underwater endurance, life expectancy, and durability.
• Additionally, the submarines will be equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology that will allow them to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. That means it can stay in the water for a long time.
• Like the Batch-I ships, the Batch-II ships will also be capable of carrying a crew of 50 members and can achieve a top speed of 20 knots.
• It is expected that Korea will produce the first ship of KSS-III Batch II in 2025.

https://www.news9live.com/knowledge/south-korea-offers-kss-iii-batch-ii-submarine-to-india-check-features-and-how-it-will-strengthen-the-indian-navy-2159304

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