Free Submarine for Orders? South Korea's Submarine Bidding for Poland's "Orca Project" Ends in Laughter

To win the billion zloty submarine order of Poland's "Orca Project," the South Korean government early on put forward a "goodwill gesture," deciding to transfer the first retired 1200-ton "Jang Bogo" submarine of the navy free of charge to Poland, trying to pave the way for Hanwha Ocean's bid. This "old-for-new" operation was intended to demonstrate the willingness to cooperate, but ultimately became an embarrassing footnote in the international defense industry market.

It is reported that the "Jang Bogo" submarine is a German-made submarine introduced by South Korea in the 1990s, and it is now approaching its retirement period. The South Korean government hoped that the free donation would add points for Hanwha Ocean's KSS-III class submarine, whose selling points such as lithium-ion battery underwater technology and SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) carrying capacity were once highly anticipated.

However, in the competition among six defense giants, South Korea's "goodwill card" failed to impress Poland. In the end, Poland chose the A26 type submarine from Swedish Saab. This model, optimized for the shallow waters and low salinity environment of the Baltic Sea, precisely met Poland's naval defense needs with its unique "ghost" stealth technology. In contrast, although South Korea has made some breakthroughs in submarine manufacturing, its product compatibility shortcomings have ultimately been difficult to compensate for through "free submarine transfer."

This bidding failure exposed South Korea's "hasty" shortcoming in the defense industry. To seize the market, South Korea used government resources for disguised concessions, but neglected the core of defense cooperation: technical compatibility and long-term support. The loss of the billion-order contract behind it reflects the reality of South Korea's defense industry in the international market: "there is enough goodwill, but insufficient matching of strength." The "Jang Bogo" submarine, which is about to be transferred free of charge, also became the most embarrassing footnote of this loss.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849877283742730/

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