(LEAD) Arms review committee approves plan for nuclear-powered submarine project

The state arms agency's review committee approved the blueprint for South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program on Friday, officials reported. This move advances the development of the core naval asset under a pact with the United States. The advisory panel, part of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), greenlit the Jang Bogo N project plan during a routine session earlier that day, according to a DAPA statement.

Designated to commence formally in 2027, the project was first unveiled by Seoul in May. The goal is to domestically design and manufacture nuclear-propelled, conventionally armed attack submarines. The maiden vessel is slated to set sail in the mid-2030s, with the fleet entering service after the late 2030s. The project will be open to competitive bidding and exempted from the usual preliminary feasibility study required for arms acquisitions, thereby expediting its implementation.

The government intends to procure small modular reactors (SMR) directly for the submarines' propulsion system. Seoul has obtained US approval to construct the submarines powered by nuclear energy.