TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, the Haikun (海鯤號), glided into Kaohsiung Port (高雄港) on Wednesday (June 18) for its inaugural sea acceptance test, marking a watershed moment in the island's naval defense capabilities. CSBC Corporation (台船公司), Taiwan's largest shipbuilder, confirmed that the prototype vessel, whose name translates to "Narwhal," successfully completed initial dynamic testing of its critical systems, including propulsion, navigation, and communications during the closely watched floating trial.
The Haikun's journey to this test began last Saturday with an initial trial run in Kaohsiung's protected harbor waters. After three days of meticulous maintenance at the shipyard, the submarine departed under its own power, a crucial technical achievement for Taiwan's nascent submarine program. Elite personnel from the Navy's specialized 256th Submarine Squadron conducted the operations, with particular attention to the vessel's propulsion capabilities. Military officials remained characteristically tight-lipped about technical details of the tests, reflecting the sensitive nature of Taiwan's indigenous defense developments.
The sea acceptance test featured comprehensive security measures, with an M109 speedboat providing close escort within the harbor while a formidable defensive perimeter formed offshore. This outer security ring included a Kuang Hua VI missile boat (光華六號飛彈快艇), a battle-tested Perry-class frigate, and a specialized rescue vessel positioned for immediate response if needed. Aerial surveillance was maintained by a military helicopter circling above the test area. From the Taipei Naval Command (台北海軍司令部), Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua (唐華) and senior naval officials remotely monitored the operation through secure video feeds, ready to address any contingencies.
The milestone testing had initially been slated for April but faced a two-month postponement after Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) insisted on enhanced safety protocols before proceeding with the sensitive trials. According to sources speaking to United Daily News (UDN), Taiwan's leading Chinese-language newspaper, the current tests represent just the beginning of an exhaustive evaluation process that will include increasingly challenging submerged operations in various water depths and comprehensive combat systems verification. Naval officials have established an ambitious timeline, aiming to complete all sea trials by late September with formal commissioning of the submarine scheduled for November. ◼
