Chief of Naval Operations Supports Submarine Export Drive to Saudi Arabia

Official Visit to Saudi Arabia
Discussing Measures for Maritime Defense Cooperation

3,000-Ton-Class KSS-III for Export

Admiral Kim Kyung-Ryul, Chief of Naval Operations, will make an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 29 to September 3, 2026. As Saudi Arabia is preparing to introduce submarines as part of its naval force enhancement, this visit is essentially aimed at supporting the export of Korean defense products.

According to the Navy on August 28, Admiral Kim will hold a bilateral meeting in Riyadh with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Gharibi, Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. They plan to discuss measures to strengthen military cooperation, including establishing high-level exchanges between the two navies, creating regular consultative bodies, and expanding education and training cooperation. Admiral Kim will also attend the Korea-Saudi defense industry cooperation workshop, where he will share the Republic of Korea Navy's experience in vessel operations, introduce Korea's defense and shipbuilding capabilities, and exchange views on potential collaboration in the maritime defense sector.

Separately, Admiral Kim will visit the IMI shipyard in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia, which was established as a joint venture between HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Saudi Arabia's state-run company Aramco. There, he will meet with the chief executive officer to explore the potential for expanding maritime defense cooperation between the two countries, including naval vessel construction and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work.

It is known that Saudi Arabia is considering the introduction of four to six submarines for approximately 5 trillion won, and five 6,000-ton class frigates for about 3 trillion won, as part of its efforts to bolster its naval capabilities. Hanwha Ocean is reportedly reviewing participation in the submarine project. Hanwha Ocean’s strategic focus on strengthening ties with the United States and targeting Saudi Arabia represents the first major test of Korea's so-called "Defense Industry 2.0" strategy.

Within the Saudi market, the ecosystem for submarine construction is already being established. In February, Hanwha Ocean showcased the 3,600-ton class KSS-III at the World Defense Show in Riyadh and signed business agreements with 11 domestic submarine partner companies to enter Saudi Arabia and the Middle East jointly.

The 3,600-ton class KSS-III Batch II, proposed by Hanwha Ocean to Saudi Arabia, is the latest model featuring enhanced detection, strike capabilities, stealth, and underwater operating performance. However, the first Batch II vessel, the Jang Young Sil, is currently undergoing test evaluation and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy at the end of 2027. Hanwha Ocean is targeting the export market by combining the operational record of the deployed Batch I with the technological improvements of Batch II.

Hanwha Ocean believes that it will take more time to secure actual orders, as Saudi Arabia has not yet officially announced the specific number of submarines or the bidding schedule for the project. To further penetrate the Saudi market, Hanwha Ocean plans to offer a comprehensive package that includes not only weapons performance and competitive pricing, but also joint training, localized production, MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), supply chain, and security cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.