TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The domestic submarine Narwhal must complete certain tests before sea trials can begin, Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Chiu said the Navy's technical support team is working closely with CSBC to conduct tests and make certain adjustments, Liberty Times reported. Once everything is verified, the submarine can be sent out for testing at sea, he said.

The military originally scheduled the submarine to undergo sea trials in April to align with various control checkpoints, such as maritime safety evaluations, Chiu said.

Submarines represent a critical military capability, the vice admiral said. Their development involves many teams, complex systems, and testing schedules for new equipment.

He said the Navy has strived to meet deadlines and will continue working toward achieving readiness to go to sea, which is a more important goal than adhering to a timeline.

The military still aims to complete sea trials for the Narwhal by the end of September, Chiu said. A special report will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan after sea trials are completed to unfreeze the submarine project budget, he said. Despite these difficulties, the overall procurement plan is proceeding as originally scheduled, he added.