Mid-life Upgrade for South Korean Type 214 Submarines

In South Korea, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has awarded the mid-life upgrade (MLU) program of three out of the nine Type 214 (Sohn Won-il class) submarines of the Seoul Navy to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI).

The said program will have an estimated cost of 360 million dollars and will involve the implementation of a new combat management system (CMS), sonar, and new-type sensors replacing the current ones, thereby enhancing the operational capabilities of the Sohn Won-il class submarines.

HD HHI’s partner in this initiative will be LIG Nex1, which, in turn, manages the MLU program for the Type 219 (Jangbogo class) submarines in service with the South Korean Navy.

All nine vessels of the Sohn-Won-il class, which entered service between 2007 and 2020, will be progressively subjected to the mid-life upgrade program, with its expected completion set for 2036.

Source Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)

Photo credit @South Korean Armed Forces