Argh...non riesco a trovare nè i nomi, nè più di tante informazioni...
In early November 2000 the ROK Defense Ministry picked the German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) and its Type 214 submarine as the foreign contractor for the next-generation "KSS-II" submarine project to supply three 1,800 ton-class submarines to the Navy by 2009. South Korea selected the German company's Type 214 submarine over the French Scorpene submarine because the Germans offered a better price and parts supply. The South Korean Government had abandoned plans to acquire three Kilo-Class 636 second-hand submarines from Russia, as part-payment for an outstanding loan of $1.75 billion. Valuing the submarines at $1.1 billion after inspection, the Korean team concluded the boats did not meet quality requirements.
In late November 2000 the ROK Defense Ministry selected Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. (HHI) for the 1.27 trillion-won ($1.12 billion) project to build submarines with the German firm's technology and design. Hyundai Heavy, a shipbuilding arm of the giant Hyundai Group, outbid rival Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Ltd. to team up with HDW. Hyundai Heavy won the contract as it offered lower prices and was in better financial shape than Daewoo Shipbuilding. Daewoo Shipbuilding had enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the South Korean submarine industry until early 1999, when the Defense Ministry allowed Hyundai to participate in the KSS-II submarine project.
By acquiring technology from foreign contractors, the ROK Defense Ministry hopes to design its own submarines by 2010.
South Korea is to build up its submarine fleet by increasing the number of vessels and boosting their capability, the defense ministry said Jan. 5.
The nation currently has nine ageing 1,295-tonne, 209-Class subs but three 214-Class, 1,800-tonne boats are being built and due for completion by 2008, the ministry said.
A ministry spokesman said South Korea was considering long-term plans eventually to replace all its 209-Class German-built subs that were introduced in the 1990s, but gave no details.
The Chosun newspaper said the military plans to add six more 214-Class subs by 2020, in addition to the three now under construction. It quoted military sources as saying the six would be commissioned beginning in 2012.
â€ÂThe total number of submarines will increase to 18 (by 2020),†a source was quoted as saying.
The Chosun daily and Yonhap news agency said the military also plans to spend $3.5 billion to build three 3,500-ton submarines between 2010-2022.
The defense ministry spokesman strongly denied a report in the Hankook daily that the military was seeking to develop nuclear-powered submarines.
â€ÂWe are studying the concepts of new-generation submarines but nuclear-powered ones are simply not an option,†he said.
Hai capito i Coreani...essere vicini di pianerottolo della Cina, mette un po' di strizza, evidentemente... :s03: