Taiwan conducted the first torpedo firing of its domestically-developed submarine. This is a significant milestone in a project that aims to strengthen deterrence and protect vital sea lanes if war breaks out.

Taiwan, which China claims to be its own territory has made its indigenous submarine programme an important part of its ambitious project to modernise their armed forces, as Beijing holds military exercises almost every day to assert its claims to sovereignty.

The United States and Britain have contributed expertise and technology to the submarine program, which is a major breakthrough for Taiwan, which has been diplomatically isolated and whose government denies Beijing's territorial claims.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Taiwan's CSBC Corp., which is leading the construction of eight submarines that are eventually planned, stated that the Narwhal had 'conducted its first torpedo tests the day before.

It said that the test was conducted to verify the operational capabilities of the combat system in terms such as detection and tracking, firing control, launch and torpedo guide.

The submarine's first sea trial took place in January.

Taiwan hopes to deploy two such submarines developed domestically by 2027 and equip them with missiles in the future.

The first submarine will cost T$49.36billion ($1.57billion) and use a Lockheed Martin Corp combat system. It will also carry heavyweight U.S. Mark 48 torpedoes.

The CSBC did not specify what type of torpedoes were fired in the test.

Narwhal was due to join two other submarines that were purchased in the Netherlands in 1980, but the programme has suffered delays.

Taiwan's military is dwarfed by China, who has several ballistic missile submarines as well as three aircraft carriers. They are also developing stealth fighters. Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Editing by William Maclean. $1 = $31.3660 Taiwan Dollars

(source: Reuters)