Taiwan's Indigenous Submarine, Hai Kun, Faces Delays: Water Intrusion and Engine Issues Reported

Concerns Arise as Indigenous Submarine Hai Kun's Sea Trials Delayed, Raising Questions About Its Readiness.

The sea trials for Taiwan's domestically-built submarine, the Hai Kun, originally scheduled for April, have been postponed indefinitely. According to reports, the vessel has encountered significant challenges, casting a shadow over its progress.

Guo Xi, a former naval advisor, has disclosed that water has entered the Hai Kun's compartments, leading to malfunctions in the main engine. Furthermore, he stated that the testing of the ship's Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) has only reached a mere 10% completion rate. The Republic of China Navy Command Headquarters responded by stating that the Hai Kun is currently undergoing tests and adjustments of its main systems to ensure readiness for sea trials, but declined to comment on specific claims.

Guo Xi, in a recent live broadcast, revealed that the Hai Kun's interior experienced water intrusion, causing the main engine to fail, rendering the submarine "unable to move." He further highlighted that the IPMS, designed with over 4,000 testing points, has only completed approximately 400 so far. Guo Xi also mentioned instances of pipe ruptures leading to water leakage within the Hai Kun, which reportedly halted the work of the foreign testing team. He predicted, "It won't move in April, nor in May... it's impossible in June."