South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has unveiled its submarine designs as part of its competitive bid for the Hellenic Navy’s multibillion-euro naval modernization program. HHI highlighted its extensive experience in undersea vessel construction, citing its role in building six of Seoul’s nineSohn Won-yil-class (KSS-II) submarines under the Korean Attack Submarine Program, with a $360 million contract to refurbish the first three KSS-II vessels. HHI also pointed to its involvement in the newer KSS-III program, having delivered the final Batch I submarineROKS Shin Chae-ho. The company signaled broader naval design cooperation beyond submarines during its visit to Greece. HHI is one among several contenders competing for the Hellenic Ministry of Defence contract. South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean presented its KSS-III model earlier in October, Sweden’s Saab Kockums offered an A26-based (Blekinge-class) design, and German and French firms proposed their Type 209NG and Scorpène Evolved designs respectively. The Hellenic Navy will assess all proposals over the coming months as part of Greece’s significant naval upgrade effort under the “Aspida tou Achillea” program.
