How good is Taiwan's new diesel-electric submarine? Experts have their say

To bolster its defences against a possible Chinese navy attack, Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically-made submarine.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made its submarine programme a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.

President Tsai Ing-wen launched 'Haikun', a name which translates as 'mythical sea creature' – the first of eight new submarines – in the southern city of Kaohsiung. It is thought that the arrival of the new submarine will have caught China off guard.

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Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, however, it is viewed as a rebel province by the Chinese government, which also opposes any engagement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.

The creation of the 'Haikun' class submarine involved input from the US, UK, Australia and other Nato allies.

Forces News spoke to experts to find out their view on what the submarine class could give to Taiwan's military.

'That is a big deterrent'

Taiwan is a self-governing island that China still regards as a renegade province and has vowed to reclaim one day.

China's defence ministry, responding to a question about the submarine and how it could prevent China from surrounding the island, said Taiwan was "over-rating itself and attempting something impossible".

However, former US submarine commander David Marquet told Forces News: "If the Taiwanese can keep four or five of them at sea at any one time, that is a big deterrent."

Former Royal Navy commander, Commander (Ret'd) Tom Sharpe said: "As a deterrent, as a weapon system, diesel-electric submarines, [when] well run, well maintained are very, very credible."

He added: "They haven't got the latest air-independent compulsion, they haven't got the latest anechoic tiling (rubber tiles that are affixed to the hull with glue) to absorb sonar signatures.

"But who's to say that hulls two to eight don't have some of that and maybe even the later ones will have some form of ballistic missile firing capability."

Armament

Taiwan aims to eventually operate a fleet of 10 submarines – including two older Dutch-made boats – and equip them with missiles.

The latest launch is equipped with Mk 48 heavyweight torpedoes.

"It's being armed with the same torpedoes that we use in the United States. It's a very powerful torpedo, it can sink large warships with one shot," former US Submarine Commander David Marquet explained.

He added: "The officers on the other side, who are driving those ships, are deathly afraid of these submarines and these attacks coming from underneath the water."

The UK would "likely" become involved if a war between China and Taiwan were to break out, according to a defence security expert.

Dr Raymond Kuo, an expert in International Security and East Asia, spoke to Forces News in April, amid rising tensions between the two Asian nations over the supply of semiconductor chips.