Korean Attack Submarine program

Korean Attack Submarine program, KSS meaning Submarine, is a three-phased project to build up the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy)'s submarine arsenal. Before the KSS program, the submarine fleet of the ROK Navy consisted of midget submarines, such as the Dolgorae class submarine and SX 756 Dolphin class submarine, which had limited capabilities for inshore operations. The KSS program sought to acquire submarines that can deter hostile submarines and surface ships; protect friendly naval bases and sea shores communications; carry out reconnaissance missions.

Through the first phase, KSS-I, the ROK Navy acquired nine 1,200-ton Chang Bo-go class submarines. For the second phase, KSS-II, the ROK Navy plans to acquire nine 1,800-ton Type 214 submarines with Air-Independent propulsion (AIP) system^{[citation needed]}; the lead ship of her class, ROKS Sohn Won-il (SS 072) was launched at a shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries on June 9, 2006. The third phase of the program, KSS-III is scheduled to begin in 2007 and it was previously planned to have the lead ship of her class ready in 2017. A total of nine 3,000-ton KSS-III submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies (i.e. not going under license as the previous KSS-I and KSS-II submarines).^{[citation needed]}

In May 2009, South Korea decided to delay by two years its KSS-III project. The project is expected to cost around 800 millions dollars (597 millions euros). 9 additional 1,800-ton submarines will be operational in 2018.^{[citation needed]}