Hanwha Ocean Develops Domestic Water-Ram Submarine Launcher

Hanwha Ocean has developed a key submarine system, a water-ram horizontal launcher, using domestic technology. The company said it worked with South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD) for ten years to complete it. The equipment had previously been imported.

A horizontal launcher pushes torpedoes and other weapons carried aboard a submarine out of the hull and into the sea. The new device uses the water-ram method, in which water pressure ejects the weapon. According to Hanwha Ocean, it has secured control technology that regulates the force applied to the weapon, so it can be fired stably at a set speed.

Built for deep-water safety

Beyond launch performance, the company focused on safety for underwater operation. To fire a weapon at depth, a submarine must open the outer door of the launch tube against high water pressure. Hanwha Ocean says it designed the equipment to withstand that pressure and strong shocks, and added multiple layers of safeguards to prevent malfunctions. The structure was also simplified to ease maintenance and operating burdens.

The company also gained the ability to tailor the launcher to the differing conditions of each submarine. This rests on launch-force analysis technology, which examines the force used to push out a weapon. Hanwha Ocean plans to use it in developing follow-on equipment.

Cost, delivery and export prospects

Hanwha Ocean expects that replacing imported equipment with a domestic product will cut procurement costs and shorten delivery times. It also believes the localization will help in developing equipment for next-generation submarines and strengthen its competitiveness in overseas sales.