Bangladesh Navy Eyes South Korean Improved Jang Bogo-Class Submarines

Reading Time: 8 minutes A Strategic Leap in Undersea Warfare for the Bangladesh Navy Key Highlights Bangladesh is negotiating with South Korea to procure six Improved Jang Bogo-class submarines under a US$2 billion programme. The submarines will be stationed at BNS Pekua, a new US$1.29 billion underwater base near Cox’s Bazar built by China’s Poly Technologies Inc. The Bangladesh Navy will employ South Korean-developed weapons including the Baek Sang Eo (White Shark) heavyweight torpedo and Haeseong-3 (C-Star) sub-launched cruise missile. This acquisition will significantly enhance deterrence against India and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh has the option to locally assemble key components and torpedoes under joint-venture or offset arrangements, enabling scalable procurement and regional exports. Indonesia’s successful acquisition and operation of similar submarines validate the platform’s reliability and export viability. The project supports Bangladesh’s Blue Economy and EEZ protection policy, with strategic synergy alongside other Korean naval platforms