South Korea’s latest bid to be the builder of Canada’s next submarines has been seen in Victoria, showing what could be developed if the country is selected as a successful bid.
The two warships, originating from South Korea’s Jinhae Naval Base, arrived after a two-month voyage with the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho submarine and the ROKS Daejeon both arriving in port on Saturday.
Rear Adm. David Patchell, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, said he was “very grateful” the South Koreans made their way to Victoria.
He said: “It’s exciting about the Canadian Navy we’re building. “We’re about to buy brand new submarines.
Canada has received two bids for a contract to build new submarines: one from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, which is building the two vessels seen in Victoria.
Over the past few months, ads for Hanwha promoting its KSS-III submarine have been popping up all over the place including YouTube ads, billboards and other promotional materials as the company tries to make itself a household name in Ottawa.
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The South Korean company also said it will build its military vehicles in Canada in collaboration with the domestic automotive industry, including mobile howitzers, rocket launchers and infantry fighting vehicles. But that depends on them being successful bidders.
“As you know, there is an investment case that matches what the Canadian government has requested,” said Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Canada. “But what we have heard loud and clear is to deliver the first four submarines very quickly without any modifications to the fleet.”
The KSS-III that arrived in Victoria is the type that will be delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy, with a 2032 arrival date.
Canada hopes to acquire 12 submarines, Patchell said, adding that it would make the country an “undersea nation.”
TKMS did not comment on parts of the application while the government is still reviewing it, spokesman Nils Beyer said in April, but said the strength of the overall strategy is the “depth of government-backed communications” it supports.
Beyer said this includes targeted investment strategies, strategic infrastructure support, and financial structures that enable long-term delivery.
The German manufacturer’s request is supported by the German and Norwegian governments, who sell it to Canadian officials as a further relationship with NATO allies.
The manufacturer has long sought to include Canadian companies in its supply chain and potential bid. Beyer pointed to TKMS forming partnerships with Bombardier and Lockheed Martin Canada.
Both companies have been told they expect a decision in June, which would pave the way for delivery in 2032.
“I needed them yesterday,” said Patchell. “Canada needs a navy.” We are the largest ocean, the longest coastline in the world, 244,000 kilometers across three oceans.
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