Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer

[Saifullah Sani]

Key Points

• Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun building a 40 m mini-submarine
• The platform may be designed to support inshore surveillance or special forces operations

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has begun construction of a mini-submarine for an undisclosed naval customer, the company confirmed to IHS Jane's on 25 September.

The HDS-400 submarine under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries could be a permutation of the mini-submarine concept known as the KSS 500A unveiled by South Korea's Agency for Defence Development in 2011. (Mrityunjoy Mazumdar)​

The submarine is based on the company's newly introduced design known as the HDS-400 - a lighter variant of the HDS-500RTN platform that was offered to the Royal Thai Navy earlier in 2015. IHS Jane's first obtained company sales literature revealing the HDS-400 design at the DSEI 2015 exhibition in London earlier in September 2015.

Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Muhammad Omar]

what are the specs of this submarine?

 

[black-hawk_101]

Countries like BD, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and other small countries should buy it.

 

[masud]

Countries like BD, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and other small countries should buy it.

yes, we should bye it..................

 

[black-hawk_101]

yes, we should bye it..................

I don't think so that BN has made the right decision of buying used 70s era Chinese Submarines at all. They should have requested a firm order of 3-4 submarines from EU side. Or even from Chinese side but Subs like S-20.
They can acquire 6 S-20BN in three batches easily and in 5-6 years time too.

 

[samlove]

Key Points

• Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun building a 40 m mini-submarine
• The platform may be designed to support inshore surveillance or special forces operations

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has begun construction of a mini-submarine for an undisclosed naval customer, the company confirmed to IHS Jane's on 25 September.

The HDS-400 submarine under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries could be a permutation of the mini-submarine concept known as the KSS 500A unveiled by South Korea's Agency for Defence Development in 2011. (Mrityunjoy Mazumdar)​

The submarine is based on the company's newly introduced design known as the HDS-400 - a lighter variant of the HDS-500RTN platform that was offered to the Royal Thai Navy earlier in 2015. IHS Jane's first obtained company sales literature revealing the HDS-400 design at the DSEI 2015 exhibition in London earlier in September 2015.

Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer - IHS Jane's 360

actually there are some reports tht these are indian govt order

 

[masud]

I don't think so that BN has made the right decision of buying used 70s era Chinese Submarines at all. They should have requested a firm order of 3-4 submarines from EU side. Or even from Chinese side but Subs like S-20.
They can acquire 6 S-20BN in three batches easily and in 5-6 years time too.

2 chines sub for training purpos (only modernization cost will pay by bangladesh). 2 improved kilo alrady orderd. BN also shown interest turkis navy type-209 subs.

 

[black-hawk_101]

2 chines sub for training purpos (only modernization cost will pay by bangladesh). 2 improved kilo alrady orderd. BN also shown interest turkis navy type-209 subs.

Kilo from Russia?

 

[masud]

Kilo from Russia?

yes. (improve kilo class) +main weapons (3M-54 Klub - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) + possible also can use chines weapons system.

 

[Penguin]

yes. (improve kilo class) +main weapons (3M-54 Klub - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) + possible also can use chines weapons system.

IIRC BN is getting 2 ex-Chinese Ming (Soviet Romeo) class boats. The Kilo's are under negotiation/planned as are midget submarines.

Late 2014 it was reported:

No date has been fixed for further acquisition talks but Tass has already reported that the Bangladeshi navy expected government go-ahead to buy submarines by 2019

TASS: Russia - Bangladesh reveals sights on Russian submarines, navy warplanes

 

[Kamil_baku]

i wonder the specification of these submarines.. there is huge market for submarine in ASEAN region. I wish Turkey could also develop their own design ASAP and offer it.

 

[Penguin]

what are the specs of this submarine?

As is says in the article:

According to specifications provided by HHI, the HDS-400 displaces 400 tonnes, is 40 m long, and has a maximum speed of 15 kt. No details on the platform's weapons fit options have been revealed; however, other boats of similar size can typically hold up to two heavyweight and four lightweight torpedoes, or accommodate up to 14 special forces personnel alongside the submarine's crew.

Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer - IHS Jane's 360

Hyundai offers Submarine HDS-500RTN To Thailand.
Maybe submarine HDS-500RTN developed from KSS-500A,
if this is true
This boat may have a weight of 510 tons with roaming capabilities are continuous as far as 2,000 nautical miles for 21 days, the maximum speed of 20 knots and a maximum depth of 250 meters, this ship has a crew of about 10 people.

Hyundai offers Submarine HDS-500RTN To Thailand - ASEAN Military Defense Review

HDS 500 bottom left (probably not to same scale)

KSS-500A

Displacement 510 tons
Length: 37 meters
Beam: 4.5 meter
Speed: Maximum 20 kt submerged, 5-7 kt cruising
Range 2,000nmi / 21 days, designed to require minimal snorkelling during three-week patrol.
The endurance is at low speed and severely curtailed at high speed.
Diving Depth 250m
Complement 10 (2 crew with a watch of 5)
Armament: 2 x 533mm (21") heavyweight torpedoes and 4 x 324mm (12.75") lightweight torpedoes.
Torpedo 6 (no reloads on tubes)
Missile/Mine 2 (on payload interface module)
Special forces 7 (combat swimmers = 4)
UUV/SDV 1

Up to 14 special forces personnel can embarked. The FPM at the stern allows the deployment of divers, swimmer delivery vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles.
There is a payload interface module containing two box launchers: one for vertical-launch missiles, the other for mines.

 

[black-hawk_101]

yes. (improve kilo class) +main weapons (3M-54 Klub - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) + possible also can use chines weapons system.

So it seems that BN will going to Purchase a total of 6 in 3 batches?

IIRC BN is getting 2 ex-Chinese Ming (Soviet Romeo) class boats. The Kilo's are under negotiation/planned as are midget submarines.

Late 2014 it was reported:

TASS: Russia - Bangladesh reveals sights on Russian submarines, navy warplanes

Many East Asian countries are moving out of Chinese weapons inventory. For BN and other East Asian countries there is a fine option to go for F-16 Block-20 with MLU-4s. I really don't know how many F-16 Block-20 are there which can be upgraded but I am sure there are enough.

 

[Penguin]

So it seems that BN will going to Purchase a total of 6 in 3 batches?



Many East Asian countries are moving out of Chinese weapons inventory. For BN and other East Asian countries there is a fine option to go for F-16 Block-20 with MLU-4s. I really don't know how many F-16 Block-20 are there which can be upgraded but I am sure there are enough.

Is there a relation to the topic of submarines?

 

[Bilal Khan 777]

CRITICAL DESIGN ISSUES / OBSERVATIONS WITH HHI KS500A S/M

S No Design Observation Comment
1. Concept An initial concept and not proceeded to engineering design or industrialization
2. Past Experience Shipbuilder has no past or current experience of building compact submarines.
3. Main Propulsion Batteries Li Ion batteries are without a mechanism to charge them at sea in this S/M. S/M cannot dive after first discharge.
4. Main Propulsion Batteries Battery bank cannot be discharged more than 60%, so effectively can only use 40% capacity of the declared endurance.
5. Main Propulsion Batteries Li Ion batteries, if completely discharged, have to be replaced. Batteries are not in a separate compartment or outside the pressure hull so replacement is time consuming.
6. Main Propulsion Batteries Batteries inside the pressure hull. Any chemical event or fire will directly affect the crew with gas exchange in pressurized chamber / hull.
7. Autonomy loss Declared autonomy is 2000NM but gets adjusted to 1200NM due to above observation.
8. Flank / conformal Array Sonar S/M does not have appropriate length to use the flank /conformal array capabilities specifically in lower frequencies due to limited length, hence very limited range.
9. Non-Compliant rescue solution The vessel is not compatible and compliant with NATO standard S/M rescue requirements and methods.
10. Sail design obstruction The “built in” sail design does not allow crew movement from bow to stern.
11. Emergency Power Generator S/M has no emergency generator in the design, putting life safety at risk.
12. Questionable Propulsion System The propulsion system has design issues, and still not perfected in many S/Ms such as Kilo class.
13. No Torpedo Defence The Bow mounted sonar can detect incoming torpedo but submarine has no countermeasure launchers.