I'm publishing news about subs and other issues at a slower tempo. Unlike most advanced countries Australian submarine changes are slow: first LOTE by 2030? 1 used Virginia by 2036 or later? But missiles and novel warheads always tempt. Shawn C and Gessler are welcome to post articles on SubMatts. Cheers Pete
August 14, 2021
South Korea Commissions its first KSS 3, Batch 1, Submarine
But will actually deploy it by August 2022 after Navy trials.
Final target of SLBM is to load nuclear warhead. There is a rumor the cold launching system for SLBM of South Korea is using Russian technology. In future, South Korea develops nuclear submarine armed with nuclear warhead SLBM. Do four powers (China, Russia, Japan, USA) surrounding South Korea allow such a behavior?
I see it more likely South Korea has put a missile compartment plug into an enlarged variant of the Type 214 design TKM sold to South Korea.
However, NORTH Korea may be more likely to have modified one of its Golfs into a Sinpo-class SSB ie. a conventionally powered nuclear tipped ballistic missile submarine.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinpo-class_submarine#Possible_Golf-II_conversion
Yes SLBM firing submarines only make sense if the SLBMs have nuclear warheads.
If South Korea has stolen secret Russian technology for cold launching SLBMs it is entirely appropriate for South Korea's situation. South Korea is always under nuclear threat from North Korea.
Yes, it looks like the four powers (China, Russia, Japan, USA) surrounding South Korea UNDERSTAND South Korea's need to prepare a nuclear Deterrent against North Korea.
Japan has also prepared the elements of nuclear weapons potential for about 2 decades. That is Japan has literally tonnes of Plutonium which, with Uranium 235, it can manufacture into weapons grade.
Japan has developed the nuclear warhead suitable Epsilon intercontinental range missile.
Japan also has had the technology for decades to build nuclear weapon devices.
See https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2016/03/trumps-moderation-and-japans-nuclear.html
Japan has resources such as Plutonium and technologies to develop nuclear weapons. But, Japan does not have one of the most important factors to develop nuclear weapons. To develop nuclear weapons, its secrecy including planning must be established
However, budget and R&D system of Japan MoD is crystal clear as shown in the Submarine Matters. Even details (unit price, number, types) of food and shoes are released in the 800-pages budget paper of MoD. MoD can not develop nuclear weapon secretly.
So basically, what South Korea built was a modernized version of the Golf and Hotel class Submarine or the Juliett-class submarine.
ReplyDeleteHi Pete
ReplyDeleteFinal target of SLBM is to load nuclear warhead. There is a rumor the cold launching system for SLBM of South Korea is using Russian technology. In future, South Korea develops nuclear submarine armed with nuclear warhead SLBM. Do four powers (China, Russia, Japan, USA) surrounding South Korea allow such a behavior?
Regards
Hi Nicky
ReplyDeleteI see it more likely South Korea has put a missile compartment plug into an enlarged variant of the Type 214 design TKM sold to South Korea.
However, NORTH Korea may be more likely to have modified one of its Golfs into a Sinpo-class SSB ie. a conventionally powered nuclear tipped ballistic missile submarine.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinpo-class_submarine#Possible_Golf-II_conversion
Cheers
Pete
Hi Anonymous [at Aug 15, 2021, 11:07:00 AM]
ReplyDeleteYes SLBM firing submarines only make sense if the SLBMs have nuclear warheads.
If South Korea has stolen secret Russian technology for cold launching SLBMs it is entirely appropriate for South Korea's situation. South Korea is always under nuclear threat from North Korea.
Yes, it looks like the four powers (China, Russia, Japan, USA) surrounding South Korea UNDERSTAND South Korea's need to prepare a nuclear Deterrent against North Korea.
Japan has also prepared the elements of nuclear weapons potential for about 2 decades. That is Japan has literally tonnes of Plutonium which, with Uranium 235, it can manufacture into weapons grade.
Japan has developed the nuclear warhead suitable Epsilon intercontinental range missile.
Japan also has had the technology for decades to build nuclear weapon devices.
See https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2016/03/trumps-moderation-and-japans-nuclear.html
and
https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2018/03/hitachi-asset-in-japans-comprehensive.html
Regards
Pete
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteJapan has resources such as Plutonium and technologies to develop nuclear weapons. But, Japan does not have one of the most important factors to develop nuclear weapons. To develop nuclear weapons, its secrecy including planning must be established
However, budget and R&D system of Japan MoD is crystal clear as shown in the Submarine Matters. Even details (unit price, number, types) of food and shoes are released in the 800-pages budget paper of MoD. MoD can not develop nuclear weapon secretly.
Regards