The Taiwan-built submarine “Narwhal” is currently undergoing the Harbour Acceptance Trial (HAT), but it has recently been reported that there are still more than 70 deficiencies to be improved and need to be retested, which will also affect the subsequent Sea Acceptance Test (SAT), which may even be postponed to the first quarter of next year, and the follow-up may even affect its mass production plan. In this regard, scholars said that the “Narwhal” is Taiwan’s first self-made submarine, and it is good to find problems in the process of starting from scratch, and there may be delays in the relevant test schedule or mass production plan, but the impact should be small.
Military sources privately said that both the Hong Kong and sea trials must be carried out step by step and strictly implemented to ensure that the prototype ships meet the operational needs of the navy.
Shu Hsiao-Huang (舒孝煌), an associate researcher at the Division of Chinese Politics and Military Affairs, which is under the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the delay in the relevant tests will affect the overall delivery plan, but it is necessary to take a closer look at the seriousness of the relevant deficiencies, whether it affects the overall ship design or just the adjustment of the organization, and the situation of the two is not the same.
However, Shu Hsiao-Huang believes that as far as the overall underwater force development plan is concerned, it is a good thing to find deficiencies and improve them, and if the ship is rushed to meet the schedule and catch up with the schedule, it will be more difficult to deal with the problem when it is discovered only when it is officially mass-produced or put into service, and as for whether the mass production plan will be affected, the budget implementation can be discussed again.
Shu Hsiao-Huang said: “If you can maintain this continuous development of underwater military power, you can improve these designs, and then the next seven mass-produced ships can be perfected, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.” But that is to say, if it really affects the mass production plan, should the budget be retained? Delay a year before starting? I think that’s probably something that needs to be considered holistically.'”
國造潛艦「海鯤艦」目前正在進行泊港測試（HAT），但最近傳出仍有超過70項缺失需要改進，並需進行補測，這將影響原定於10月開始的海上測試（SAT），可能延至明年第一季度才能進行，進而影響量產計畫。學者指出，「海鯤艦」是我國首艘自製潛艦，從無到有的過程中發現問題是有益的，雖然測試和量產計畫可能會延遲，但影響不會太大。
目前「海鯤艦」正進行泊港測試（HAT），但軍方內部傳出有超過70項測試未通過，這使得原定於10月的海上測試（SAT）推遲，可能要到明年3、4月才能進行。軍方人士表示，無論是港試還是海試，都必須嚴格按照程序進行，以確保原型艦符合海軍的作戰需求。
外界擔心測試進度延誤會影響台船的交艦時間。對此，國防院中共政軍與作戰概念研究所副研究員舒孝煌表示，測試延誤會影響整體交艦計畫，但需仔細評估缺失的嚴重性，了解是影響整體設計還是僅是機構調整，兩者情況不同。
舒孝煌認為，從整體水下兵力發展的角度來看，發現缺失並進行改善是好事。如果因交艦時間而急於求成，等到正式量產或服役時再發現問題將更難處理。至於量產計畫是否受影響，則需根據預算執行情況進行討論。他表示：「如果能夠改善設計，未來的七艘量產型艦也能更完善，這並不是壞事。但如果影響到量產計畫，則需要考慮是否保留預算，或延後一年再開始。」
