South Korea plans free transfer of ROKS Jang Bogo submarine to Poland by end of 2025.

South Korea plans to transfer the retired ROKS Jang Bogo submarine to Poland at the end of 2025 as part of Seoul's support package for the Polish Navy's Orka procurement program.

As reported by the Korea Times on November 26, 2025, South Korea is preparing to transfer its first operational submarine, the ROKS Jang Bogo, to Poland at no cost by late 2025, according to officials familiar with the plan. The free-of-charge gesture is part of a broader effort to support South Korean proposals in the Orka submarine competition, which involves up to four new submarines. Officials in Seoul state that administrative approvals remain in progress following the submarine's final ceremonial voyage and that coordination with Warsaw is ongoing.
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The Jang Bogo will be the first South Korean submarine ever transferred to another country, although South Korea has previously donated decommissioned surface vessels to partners such as Colombia and Peru. (Picture source: South Korean Navy)

South Korea plans to transfer its first operational submarine, the ROKS Jang Bogo (SS-061), to Poland free of charge at the end of 2025 as part of a wider effort to support South Korean shipbuilders competing in Poland’s Orka procurement program, which includes up to four submarines. This potential transfer follows the submarine’s final ceremonial voyage from Jinhae Naval Base on November 19, 2025, during which its first and last captains took part to mark the end of its 34-year service life. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has indicated that the submarine will be used to support defense exports and industrial cooperation, although formal administrative steps are still required before the transfer can proceed. Coordination with Warsaw has not yet been fully detailed publicly, but the planned transfer fits within a period of deepening defense cooperation between the two countries. For South Korea, the symbolic and practical value of donating its first submarine to Poland will play an important role in the ongoing competition for the Orka program.

The ROKS Jang Bogo is South Korea's first full-size submarine, built by HDW in Germany, then launched in September 1991, before being acquired in 1992 and commissioned in 1993 with the hull number SS-061. During its operational life, the submarine, named after a ninth-century Silla maritime figure, sailed approximately 633,000 kilometers, which is equivalent to circling the globe more than fifteen times, and took part in exercises such as Silent Shark, Pacific Reach, and RIMPAC, where it conducted mock attacks and training evolutions under various conditions. In 2024 and 2025, the submarine was primarily used for training new sailors and supporting maintenance workshops as its age limited its participation in high-intensity missions. A farewell ceremony was organized for its final two-hour cruise, during which submarines at Jinhae sounded their whistles to mark the event. The vessel’s retirement concludes a service life that paralleled the growth of South Korea’s domestic submarine capability across several decades.

The Jang Bogo, based on the German Type 209-1200 submarine, features 4 MTU 396-series diesel engines and a Siemens electric motor delivering around 5,000 shaft horsepower through a single shaft. The submarine displaces roughly 1,200 tons surfaced and up to about 1,400 tons submerged after hull stretch upgrades applied to some units, with a length of approximately 55.9 meters in its original configuration and a beam of around 6.3 meters. It can reach about 11 knots on the surface and approximately 21 knots submerged, and it has an endurance of around 50 days with a test depth of 500 meters. The crew generally consists of five officers and 26 enlisted personnel, accommodated in a pressure hull built from HY80 steel. Modernization programs carried out every eight to twelve years involved cutting and re-welding the hull to replace engines, batteries, navigational equipment, and combat systems, ensuring the submarine’s continued operation. Lithium-ion battery development programs aim to increase endurance by two to three times compared to the original lead acid systems, reflecting ongoing efforts to extend the capabilities of the class.

The Jang Bogo-class, also known as KSS-I, mounts eight 533 mm bow torpedo tubes capable of launching up to fourteen heavyweight torpedoes, including the German SUT and later, the South Korean Baek Sang Eo torpedoes. Selected units have been upgraded to launch UGM-84 Sub Harpoon missiles, and the class can also deploy up to twenty-eight naval mines depending on mission requirements. The sensor suite incorporates systems such as the Atlas Elektronik ISUS combat management system, the CSU 83 hull-mounted sonar, and, later, the TB-1K towed array sonar for improved low-frequency detection. Additional upgrades introduced new optics, periscopes, and electronic countermeasures, including Torpedo Acoustic Counter Measures developed by LIG Nex1. Several Jang Bogo class submarines completed modernization work between 2019 and 2025 that significantly increased simultaneous target tracking capacity and improved detection ranges, bringing their combat management capabilities closer to those of the later KSS II class. Export variants based on the class were sold to Indonesia as the 1,400-ton Nagapasa class, incorporating features derived from the experience gained with the original South Korean boats.

The Jang Bogo’s operational range reaches about 11,000 nautical miles at 10 knots on the surface, 8,000 nautical miles at 10 knots while snorkeling, and around 400 nautical miles submerged at 4 knots on battery power. (Picture source: South Korean Navy)

On the other hand, Poland’s Orka program aims to replace the Polish Navy’s aging Project 877E submarines with up to four new vessels, including a core requirement for three new 3,000-ton units that would form the foundation of its future undersea force. The program is intended to improve maritime security, strengthen deterrence, and restore capabilities for sea denial, long-range patrol, and intelligence gathering in the Baltic and surrounding regions. The new submarines are expected to carry heavyweight torpedoes and anti-ship missiles and to feature modern combat systems, sensors, and communication suites compatible with NATO operations. The overall program cost, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul throughout the submarines’ service life, is estimated to approach 8 trillion won or approximately $6 billion.

Industrial cooperation is central to the Orka competition, and South Korean companies have presented several proposals emphasizing local production, technology transfer, and long-term maintenance support. Hanwha Ocean has offered a package based on the KSS-III submarine that includes options for leasing, transfer of older platforms, joint work with Polish shipyards, and the creation of maintenance centers supported by a large-scale investment. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has also proposed submarines in the 2,300- and 3,000-ton classes developed in South Korea, also emphasizing industrial participation. European bidders include Germany’s TKMS, Italy’s Fincantieri, and Sweden’s Saab, each offering designs already operated by European navies. Political and industrial considerations, such as the European Union’s preference for equipment sourced from within the bloc, influence the competitive environment and may favor European suppliers. In this context, the planned transfer of the Jang Bogo is seen by South Korea as a demonstration of operational experience, long-term engagement, and willingness to provide additional assets as part of a larger cooperation framework.

Poland requires that foreign suppliers align their bids with national industrial policy, including commitments to local shipbuilding, workforce training, and integration of Polish firms into global supply chains. Bidders are expected to support domestic production by involving Polish yards in assembling hull sections or complete submarines, while also establishing long-term maintenance and upgrade facilities that could support future enhancements. These centers would provide Poland with operational independence and economic benefits through local employment and technological development. For South Korea, the transfer of the Jang Bogo may enable Poland to gain early familiarity with key systems, crew training routines, and maintenance processes associated with an operational submarine similar in lineage to the designs offered for Orka. This would allow Poland to conduct training, testing, and evaluation activities before receiving new build units, providing a practical advantage regardless of the final selection decision. How this factor will influence the program depends on subsequent negotiations, as each bidder adapts their proposals to meet Poland’s requirements.

This transfer is also part of Poland’s expanding defense relationship with South Korea, which accelerated after 2022 with the large-scale purchases of K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, and FA-50 aircraft. These acquisitions established a framework of long-term cooperation involving phased deliveries, industrial participation, and plans for local production of major systems. As a result, South Korea is now deeply embedded in several areas of Polish defense modernization, enabling more complex projects such as submarine procurement to be considered within an existing structure of political and industrial interaction. While European suppliers remain strong competitors, South Korea’s approach combines new build designs with the transfer of legacy equipment, industrial commitments, and logistical support. The Polish Navy’s final choice will reflect strategic considerations, alliance interoperability, and long-term sustainment planning, as well as financial and political factors. The Jang Bogo’s transfer from the Republic of Korea Navy to potential service in Poland, therefore, represents both a symbolic milestone for South Korea and a practical element within a major European procurement program.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.