South Korea’s Hanwha is taking the opportunity of this month’s International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2024), held in Targi Kielce, Poland, from 3 to 6 September, to emphasise the capabilities of its KSS-III submarine, which is being bid for the Polish Navy’s Orka programme.
Designed and built by Hanwha Ocean, the KSS-III is the latest diesel-electric-powered submarine operated by the Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN). The submarine is armed with six tubes for wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles and mobile mines.
In addition, the class features hull-mounted vertical launchers for conventional submarine -launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). Using an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system and lithium-ion batteries, the submarine can stay submerged over three weeks. The KSS-III has proven its effectiveness in both littoral shallow waters of the Yellow Sea (West Sea), which Hanwha notes is shallower than the Baltic Sea.
Aligning with the Polish Navy’s ambition to maintain and repair its future submarines domestically, Hanwha Ocean is proposing the transfer of technology related to submarine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations, ensuring Polish industry and shipyards can conduct submarine MROs independently in the future. To this end, Hanwha Ocean held an industry day in Gdansk in May to discuss detailed plans with Polish industry stakeholders on the MRO technology transfer schemes.
“The KSS-III will boost the Polish Navy’s deterrent capability, as well as contribute to regional security and stability,” Steve S K Jeong, retired ROKN vice admiral and vice President of Hanwha Ocean, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Most of all, our MRO tech transfer scheme is a truly ‘win-win’ solution to deliver economic benefits to the Polish industry.”
Alongside Hanwha Ocean at MSPO 2024, Hanwha Systems will present its advanced naval combat management system for combining onboard weapons and sensors into a single system. The integrated combat system also allocates missions to each weapon system based on enemy information collected by onboard ship sensors to conduct an engagement. The combat system mounted on the KSS-III submarine is capable of operating multiple sensors and systems such as sonar, non-acoustic sensors, weapons and communication systems to realise more effective underwater operations.
Hanwha Systems will also use MSPO to showcase the Modular Open Suit of Standard (MOSS) platform: a mobile 5G command, control and communication system that can be installed on different types of combat vehicle, including main battle tanks.
Hanwha Aerospace, meanwhile, will take the centre stage of the Hanwha stand at MSPO with its Arion-SMET multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). Based on artificial intelligence technology, the Arion-SMET can operate either remotely or autonomously to carry out missions such as the transport of equipment and ammunition; evacuation of wounded personnel; search and reconnaissance; and close combat. The vehicle has been recognised internationally for its technological prowess, Hanwha notes, having successfully conducted a Foreign Comparative Testing campaign with the US Marine Corps in December 2023.
Land defence systems such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, both of which are already in service with the Polish Army, will also be displayed by Hanwha at MSPO 2024.
The South Korean defence prime will thus endeavour to use MSPO 2024 to further engage with the Polish defence industry and the country’s defence programme.
“Hanwha is fully committed to co-operating with the Polish government and armed forces as the most trusted partner for Poland,” noted Billy Boo-hwan Lee, president of Hanwha Aerospace Europe in Warsaw. “We’re looking to further expand the scope of co-operation with Polish industries on new projects to help boost the Polish defence capability and industrial growth.”
Please note that European Security & Defence magazine is a leading international media partner of MSPO 2024. The September 2024 edition of the magazine will be distributed at the show.
