Taiwan’s New SSK Shows Teeth

The Republic of China’s Indigenous Defense Submarine, ROCS Hai Kun (SS-711) fired two MK-48 Exercise Torpedoes during her 8th underwater sea trial on 6 May 2026. The footage and images released by CSBC Shipbuilding, cleared by the ROCN, are amazing and clearly meant for public consumption around the Pacific Rim. You can even see the trailing guidance wires and recovery by the fleet’s new rescue and salvage ship, the CSBC-built ROCS Da Wu (ARS-571), which was only commissioned last October. The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 18 MK 48 Mod 6AT and related equipment to Taipei in 2020 for an estimated $180 million, but delivery isn’t slated until 2028, with as many as 46 ultimately planned. Until then, the ROCN has to make do with its dwindling supply of older Indonesian license-made German-designed AEG SUT 264 torpedoes, which were received in 1998 after its initial batch of SUTs, ordered for use with its two Dutch-made modified Zwaardvis class boats in the 1980s, were used up…