November 4, 2019

DSME 2000 Concept Submarine, Specifications, Potential Customers

Jane's Navy International and Naval News have both provided details of the “DSME 2000” medium sized diesel-electric concept submarine. It was displayed, around October 24, 2019 at the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX) 2019 in Busan, South Korea.

South Korea's DSME 2000 is a concept (paper) submarine targeted for the export market, particularly to Southeast Asian and South American nations. 

Pete Comment 

Potential customers DSME may particularly be looking at are:
-  the Philippines (becoming relatively wealthy, modernising its fleet, has no submarines but wants to 
   acquire some
-  Chile (2 of its 4 subs are old, commissioned in 1984
-  Columbia (several very old submarines)
-  Argentina (its 2 active subs very old entering service in 1974 and 1984
-  also Mexico (in North America) is relatively wealthy but has no submarines. 

See list of Latin American countries by nominal GDP and GDP per capita - financial indicators on  whether they can afford new submarines. The above potential customer countries might mainly use subs for surveillance against non-state actors (drug, arms and people smugglers, pirates, illegal fishing, separatists and terrorists).

DSME 2000's Indicative Specifications  

Drawn from 
Jane's Navy International and Naval News.  Preliminary design work was completed by DSME in January 2019, but the final variant can be tailored (with varying specifications) according to customer requirements.


2,180 tonnes (submerged displacement) 
71.1m long
6.5 m beam, diameter 

single-hulled

20 knots (maximum submerged speed)
10 knots
(maximum surface speed)
10,000 nautical miles at cruising speed

40 crew + 10 special forces or intelligence linguists/monitors

Lithium-ion batteries
[2+ diesel engines]
AC propulsion motor.
Lengthened version could incorporate an AIP plug

Incorporates a seven-mast configuration The masts suite includes optronic, radar, ESM, SATCOM, Snorkel and up to two communication hoistable masts. The sensor suite is based on Cylindrical Hydrophone Array, Intercept Detection and Ranging Sonar, Own Noise Analysis, Flank Array Sonar, Passive Ranging Sonar, Active Operation Sonar and Towed Array Sonar.

Flexible weapon launching system depending on customer requirements. Standard fitout can be 8 torpedo tubes with a total of 16 torpedoes/missiles/[UUVs] [or typically 32 mines].

Utilizes foreign technologies and local technologies developed for South Korea's KSS-III program



DSME’s new diesel-electric attack submarine concept targeted for the export market, DSME 2000. (Courtesy IHS Markit/M Boruah)
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DSME 2000 class submarine scale model at MADEX 2019. Blue "boxes" may depict combat system and propulsion computers/work stations and yellow boxes lithium-ion batteries 
(Courtesy Naval News)
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DSME 2000 design features a flexible weapon launching system. (Courtesy Naval News).
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Pete

4 comments:

Nicky said...

HI Pete,
I don't think the Philippines can afford submarines coming from South Korea or Europe. Most likely they will go with Vietnam and improve Kilo class SSK. Although I think the Older Chang Bogo's would be their best option. Chile and Columbia is possible and with Argentina, it all depends on if they have their finances in order.

Pete said...

Hi Nicky

See my response of November 6, 2019 "South Korea Could Export Submarines to the Philippines"
at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2019/11/south-korea-could-export-submarines-to.html

Regards

Pete

Anonymous said...

what? the PN Submarine Group actually prefers the French Scorpene and the whole French offer on support and basing more than what the Koreans or Russians can offer.

Pete said...

Hi Anonymous [November 6, 2019 at 3:34 PM]

There certainly seems to be a social media campaigh pushing a small Scorpene solution for the Philippines needs.

The Philippine Navy's pick may be over-ruled by other Philippine political interests.

Also South Korea is much geographically closer to the Philippines to sought out training and deep maintenance issues than France.

Regards

Pete