When must subs be delivered?
no later than 2035 to maintain operational capacity
How many subs is Canada buying and where will they be deployed?
Due to the complexity of submarines, they have longer rotations. To have one submarine at sea at any given time, a navy typically needs four. Canada is proposing to buy between eight and 12: four for the Atlantic, four for the Pacific and potentially four for the Arctic.
When was RFI posted
In July 2024, Canada launched the process to formally engage industry on this acquisition. A formal Request for Information was posted in fall 2024
What are Canada’s capability requirements?
Canada’s key submarine capability requirements will be stealth, lethality, persistence and Arctic deployability – meaning that the submarine must have extended range and endurance. The new subs will have to be capable of operating undetected for a range of 7,000 nautical miles, as well as a minimum of 21 days of continuous dived operations. The briefings to industry stipulated that the subs be capable of no less than 60 days of self-sustained operations.
Who responded to RFI?
South Korea, Spain, Sweden and France expressed interest in offering their diesel-electric submarine designs to Canada.
What is Hanwha’s proposal?
A pair of South Korean shipyards (Hanwha and Hyundai Heavy Industries) have teamed up on a $20-billion to $24-billion proposal to sell Canada 12 of the country’s latest submarines, known as the KSS-III. The pitch was made in a detailed, unsolicited proposal to the federal government, delivered in early March just ahead of the federal election.
The bid includes bringing Canadian submariners to South Korea to train on KS-IIIs already built for that country’s navy and building maintenance facilities here so new boats could enter service quicker upon delivery.
3 subs are currently in use.
what type of batteries will power the KS-III
Rather than relying on traditional lead-acid batteries, the KS-III draws its power from lithium-ion batteries, which were developed by Samsung SDI. Hanwha Ocean officials in a background briefing claim the new batteries allow for greater cruising speed and longer submerged times. The company claims the boat can remain underwater for more than 21 days, which would be essential for Canada in the Arctic. Korea is only the second country in the world to power its subs with lithium-ion batteries. Japan was the first.
Same can be said of TKMS.
When will Hanwha deliver the subs?
Hanwha Ocean officials said Canada could have four submarines by 2035, with the first one delivered between 2030 and 2032.
What design is TKMS offering?
Germany and Norway have been involved for several years in the joint submarine construction program. Designated as the 212CD, the boats are based on the well-established German Type 212A design, which is operated by both the German and Italian navies.
TKMS’s Type 212CD variant offers NATO interoperability, with both the German Navy and Norwegian Navy - a fellow Arctic state - using the platform. (TKMS has supplied 70% of NATO’s conventional sub fleet)
When will TKMS deliver the subs?
Canadian boats could be delivered in the 2032-33 timeframe.
what will be deciding factor?
Sub capabilities may not be the deciding factor, in addition to economic benefits, broader strategic and geopolitical considerations will be weighed in decision. “Which long-term relationship makes more sense for Canada’s security objectives? There are two distinct paths. Germany and a deeper alignment with NATO presents a more traditional and familiar path. Or take a more bold step to the Indo-Pacific with the South Korean bid.”
