Taiwan’s domestically-built submarine Taiwan is planning to develop and build a fleet of at least eight attack submarines to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy INDIGENOUS DEFENCE SUBMARINE (IDS) First vessel to enter service in 2024 Propulsion Diesel-electric X-form rudders Likely double-hulled design Specifications (unconfirmed) Expected overall length 70m Displacement (submerged) 2,500 tonnes Operational range Up to 11,000km Surface speed 8 knots (15km/h) Submerged speed 17 knots (31.5km/h) Cost: $1.54 billion Armament: U.S.-made MK-48 torpedoes. Later models possibly equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Combat management and sonar systems to be supplied by U.S. ASIA-PACIFIC SUBMARINE FLEETS, 2023 (selected countries) = 2 North Korea: 71 Japan: 22 South Korea: 19 India: 17 Pakistan: 8 Australia: 6 China: 59 Vietnam: 8 Taiwan: 4 Sources: Asian Military Review, H I Sutton, Reuters, Wisevoter © GRAPHIC NEWS