South Korea’s latest attempt to be Canada’s next builder submarines was shown in Victoria, showing what could develop if the site is selected as the successful bid.
The two warships, originating from South Korea’s Jinhae Naval Base, arrived after a two-month voyage with ROKS Dosan Ahn Changhosubmarine and ROKS Daejeon both porting in on Saturday.
Adm. David Patchell, commander of Naval Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, said he was “very grateful” the South Koreans made their way to Victoria.
“It’s exciting for the Royal Canadian Navy we’re building,” he said. “We’re about to buy brand new submarines. We’re building new destroyers, new supply ships … We’re building the navy that Canada needs to protect all three of our oceans.”
Canada has received two bids for a contract to build the new submarines: one from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, which built the two vessels on display in Victoria.
In recent months, Hanwha ads promoting its KSS-III submarine have appeared all over the place including YouTube ads, billboards and other promotional materials as the company tries to make a name for itself in Ottawa.
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The South Korean company has also said it will build its military vehicles in Canada in partnership with the local auto sector, including mobile howitzers, rocket launchers and infantry vehicles. But that depends on them being the successful bidders.
“As you know, there is an investment case that goes with this that the Canadian government has asked for,” said Glenn Copeland, CEO for Hanwha Canada. “But of course what we’ve heard loud and clear is to deliver the first four submarines as soon as possible without any modifications to the fleet as well.”
The KSS-III that arrived in Victoria is the type to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy, with a time of arrival in 2032.
Canada hopes to get 12 submarines, Patchell said, which he added will make the country a “submarine com.”
TKMS did not comment on aspects of the bid while the government is evaluating them, spokesman Nils Beyer said in April, but said the strength of the overall strategy is the “depth of government-backed commitment” that underpins it.
Beyer said this includes targeted investment mechanisms, strategic infrastructure support and financial frameworks that enable long-term delivery.
The German manufacturer’s bid is backed by the governments of Germany and Norway, which are selling it to Canadian officials as more of a partnership with NATO allies.
The sub-producer has also long sought to include Canadian companies in its supply chain and future offering. Beyer pointed to TKMS establishing partnerships with Bombardier and Lockheed Martin Canada.
Both companies have been told to expect a decision in June, which would pave the way for delivery in 2032.
“I needed them yesterday,” Patchell said. “Canada needs a navy. We’re the biggest seafarer, the longest coastline in the world, 244,000 kilometers spanning three oceans. So we need a navy, we’ve always needed a navy and we’ve always needed submarines.”
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