TSAMTO, April 28. Within the framework of the SITDEF-2025 exhibition in Lima on April 25, a memorandum of understanding was signed on the joint development of a new class of nuclear submarines based on the South Korean HDS-1500 MGP project.
The memorandum was signed by representatives of the Peruvian state shipyard Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) and the South Korean company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
As reported by Armyrecognition.com The purpose of the collaboration is to design a submarine based on the HDS-1500 model.
It is estimated that the project development phase will take from two to three years. The construction phase is expected to take at least four years. Thus, the first submarines will be able to enter service with the Peruvian Navy by the early 2030s.
Currently, the Peruvian Navy has six Type-209 class submarines in service: SS-31 Angamos, SS-32 Antofagasta, SS-33 Pisagua, SS-34 Chipana, SS-35 Islay and SS-36 Arica. The first two Type-209/1100 class submarines (Islay and Arica), ordered in 1969, joined the Peruvian Navy in 1974-1975 and were upgraded to extend their service life until 2023. The SS-31 Angamos and SS-32 Antofagasta built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel were put into service in 1980 and 1981, and the SS-34 Chipana and SS-33 Pisagua in 1982 and 1983.
In June 2016, SIMA signed contracts with TKMS and Elbit Systems, providing for the supply of equipment and a number of works to implement the repair and modernization program for four Angamos-class diesel-electric submarines. The $450 million project included a complete refit and partial modernization of the submarines at the SIMA shipyard in Callao. Repairs and upgrades will extend the life of the submarines by another 15 years (that is, by the time the new submarines are delivered).
The Peruvian Navy has been considering options for replacing the Type-209 diesel-electric submarines since 2018. Among the replacement candidates, the S-80 submarine from the Spanish Navantia shipyard, the U-214 variant, produced under license from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine (DSME, now Hanwha Ocean), were evaluated, and the Naval Group, together with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, offered the Scorpen submarine. As a result, the choice fell on the new South Korean HDS-1500 project due to the close cooperation in the field of military-technical cooperation between the countries in recent years, as well as the attractive cost and technology of Hyundai's HD offer.
The HDS-1500 naval submarine project developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries made its debut at the COLOMBIAMAR 2025 International Maritime Defense Conference, which was held at the Cartagena Convention Center (Colombia). During the HD event, Hyundai organized a joint advertising stand with LIG Nex1 to actively promote the new submarine model.
The HDS-1500 is positioned as an economically attractive solution for countries with limited defense spending, such as Colombia and Peru. The length of the submarine is 65 m, the width is 6.5 m, and the displacement underwater is 1,500 t. The HDS-1500 is half the size of the South Korean submarine Jangbogo-3 (KSS III) of the latest series. It is noted that this size significantly reduces costs, making it highly competitive in price-sensitive markets.
In terms of size and combat load, the HDS-1500 is comparable to the South Korean Son Won-il (the first licensed project of the German Type-214). The HDS-1500 is not equipped with an air-independent power plant (AIP) like the Son Won-il and Jangbogo-3, but uses advanced lithium-ion battery technology, which significantly increases its autonomy and reduces cost. HHI became the world's first shipbuilder to adapt this type of battery for submarines.
In addition, the HDS-1500 is designed as an open architecture platform, which allows the buyer to freely install weapons, combat systems and sonar systems in accordance with their specific operational needs.
