The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) is embarking on full-scale efforts to revitalize defense research and development in the submarine sector.

On the 7th, the Korea Electric Power Research Institute signed a business agreement for cooperation in the submarine sector with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Naval Submarine Command at its Changwon headquarters.

Through this agreement, the three organizations agreed to cooperate in the following areas: △ Activation of research and development for application and development of cutting-edge technologies in the submarine sector and domestic production; △ Cooperation in exchange of knowledge and information and technical advice in the submarine sector; △ Expansion of mutual visits and education and technological exchanges between organizations.

Following electric vehicles, electric propulsion ships are also receiving a lot of attention in the marine sector.

An electric propulsion system is a method of driving a propulsion motor using electricity stored in a battery or supplied from a generator without a mechanical propulsion device.

Submarines, which must propel themselves underwater without using engines, have long used electric propulsion systems to minimize underwater noise emissions and ensure survivability.

KERI established the 'LBTS (Land Based Test Site)', the first in Korea and the third in the world (after the US, UK, and Korea), in 2015 to test electric propulsion vessels such as submarines on land.It has been operating successfully for over 0 years.

In this process, the country's first independently designed and built 3,000-ton submarine, the 'Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (Jangbogo-Ⅲ class)', was tested, leading to a shortened construction period and cost reduction effects, and the Jangbogo-III Batch-II lithium battery system performance verification and system integration are currently being performed. Through this, it has also played a major role in helping Changwon-si, Gyeongnam become the center of the maritime defense industry.

KERI President Kim Nam-gyun said, “Through cooperation among the three organizations, we will greatly enhance technological capabilities in the submarine sector and strive to play a major role in helping South Korea lead the maritime defense industry.”

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT.