Recently, Taiwan's first interest focused on the appearance of the first self-made submarine "Haikun". This marks the first time since the launching ceremony held in September last year that the submarine has fully demonstrated itself to the outside world and officially stepped into the water. Although the submarine was cobbled together with a variety of technologies, and even experts on the island expressed concern about its actual combat capabilities, the joy of this moment when it "surfaced" was indescribable.
The "Sea Kun", which was displayed in its entirety for the first time, is eye-catching. According to reports, Taiwan's International Shipbuilding Corporation, which is responsible for the construction of the submarine, announced that it has completed the pontoon test operation of the submarine prototype "Haikun", and all performance indicators meet the design standards. When the submarine was "launched" for the first time, the onlookers cheered, as if witnessing a miracle.
However, the appearance of the "Sea Kun" was not without its challenges. Past controversies, as well as the "potholes" on the hull, have sparked widespread discussion. But as they say, "being on the surface of the water is just the most basic indicator". The real test of the "Sea Kun" is still yet to come, and if it can successfully dive to a depth of less than 300 meters and launch torpedoes and "Harpoon" missiles, it will be able to truly show its value.
The birth of the "Sea Kun" was not an easy task. Since the launch of the "self-built submarine" program in 2016, Taiwan has faced many challenges. The difficulty of obtaining key technologies, and the fact that almost all key systems come from the outside, makes the performance of the submarine full of unknowns.
However, we might as well remain optimistic. Historically, every great project has been accompanied by challenges and controversies, but it has also ushered in ultimate success. Just like the "Sea Kun", every appearance of the "Sea Kun" is an affirmation of past efforts and a prospect of future potential.
So, let's wait and see, how will the "Haikun" show its strength in future tests and become a member of the Taiwanese Navy? Perhaps, only time will give us the final answer. But no matter what the outcome is, this is an important moment in Taiwan's maritime history, and it will also inject new vitality and hope into the future maritime industry.