TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s domestically built submarine prototype Narwhal successfully fired exercise torpedoes during sea trials this week, marking a key milestone in validating the vessel’s combat and weapons systems.
The Narwhal sailed out of Kaohsiung Harbor for testing on both Tuesday and Wednesday morning, per CNA. Speaking to reporters at the Legislative Yuan on Wednesday, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said the tests were being conducted step by step in accordance with established procedures for submerged operations.
Koo said CSBC Corp. and the Navy would continue equipment adjustments and preparations only after ensuring safety and quality standards were met. He added that because the testing program involves many items, he would not elaborate further, but said CSBC would announce major developments when appropriate.
CSBC said in a statement Thursday afternoon that the Narwhal completed torpedo firing maneuvers during sea trials the previous day, verifying the combat system’s detection, targeting calculations, launch, and torpedo guidance capabilities, CNA reported. The company said it would continue working with the Navy on equipment calibration and dockside preparations, in accordance with strict safety and quality standards, ahead of subsequent testing phases.
Based on footage released by CSBC, the Narwhal departed from Kaohsiung Harbor and sailed to a designated testing area before conducting weapons launch verification exercises. The video showed the submarine firing two exercise torpedoes.
After the torpedoes’ positions were marked, the Navy’s new rescue vessel, the Dawu, recovered them from the sea. The Narwhal later returned safely to port at night, with captions in the video saying the trial was successfully conducted and the vessel returned safely to port.
