Arms agency holds launch ceremony for Submarine Tugboat-II program's lead vessel

A launch ceremony was held in southeastern Korea on Thursday for a submarine tugboat designed to support the Navy's 3,000-ton class submarines, the arms procurement agency said.

The ceremony for the lead vessel of the Submarine Tugboat-II program took place at a shipyard in Busan, following its steel-cutting event in October 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a release.

The Submarine Tugboat-II, with enhanced rescue and support mission capabilities, is primarily designed to tow the Navy's 3,600-ton Jang Bogo submarines, DAPA said.

It is expected to strengthen the Navy's combat support capabilities, including firefighting support and responding to marine pollution.

The tugboat's upgraded propulsion system offers greater power than previous models, and its towing capability will enable it to carry out missions in narrow waters or adverse weather conditions, according to DAPA.

The lead vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in December and will go into active service following an operational evaluation.

Yonhap