TAIPEI, Taiwan: In a project that strengthens deterrence against the Chinese navy and protects vital ‌sea lanes in the event of war, Taiwan has carried out the maiden torpedo test firing for its first domestically developed submarine.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own, has made building its own submarines an important part of its military modernization plan. This is happening while China conducts almost daily military drills to assert its control claims.

Taiwan's submarine project has received help and technology from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. This is a big step for Taiwan, which is diplomatically isolated and does not accept China's claims.

Taiwan's CSBC Corp, which is building a total of eight submarines, said on May 7 that the first submarine, called Narwhal, successfully carried out its first torpedo test the day before.

The test showed that the combat system works properly, including detecting and tracking targets, controlling fire, launching torpedoes, and guiding them.

In January, the submarine also completed its first underwater sea test.

Taiwan hopes to have at least two of these locally built submarines ready by 2027, and future ones may be equipped with missiles.

The first submarine costs about T$49.36 billion ($1.57 billion), and will use a combat system from Lockheed Martin and U.S.-made Mark 48 torpedoes. However, it was not confirmed which torpedoes were used in the recent test.

The Narwhal was supposed to be delivered to the navy in 2024, but the project has faced delays. It will join two older submarines bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

Taiwan's military is much smaller than China's, which has three aircraft carriers, several nuclear submarines, and is developing advanced stealth fighter jets.