Korean and Canadian naval submariners pose on a deck of the Republic of Korea Navy's 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, Canada, June 2. Yonhap

The Korean government and defense players are making last-ditch efforts to win Canada’s next-generation submarine project worth up to 60 trillion won ($39.14 billion), as Ottawa is expected to select a preferred bidder by the end of this month.

Under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, the Royal Canadian Navy’s aging fleet of four Victoria-class submarines will be replaced with 12 new 3,000-ton diesel-electric vessels. The comprehensive contract includes long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) lifecycles.

With a decision looming, Seoul has elevated its bid to top-tier head-of-state diplomacy, seeking to give Korea’s consortium, led by Hanwha Ocean, an edge over rival bidder TKMS of Germany — a traditional heavyweight in submarine technology — in the closely contested race.

President Lee Jae Myung recently provided critical diplomatic backing during a bilateral summit with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. Lee said he emphasized Korea’s readiness to contribute to Canada’s defense capabilities, but acknowledged during a Friday press conference that the outcome remains difficult to predict.

Hanwha Ocean’s bid centers on the 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, a KSS-III class submarine built by its predecessor Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The company has proposed delivering the first four vessels to Canada by 2035 and completing all 12 by 2043.

Unlike TKMS’ paper design, the KSS-III’s key selling point is its proven track record, as it is already actively deployed and operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.

A Royal Canadian Navy submariner boards the Republic of Korea Navy's 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine during a joint naval drill at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, Canada, June 2. Yonhap

Moon Keun-sik, a professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of Public Policy and a former Korean submarine captain, believes Seoul holds a slight technological edge.

"In terms of submarine performance and operational combat capability, Korea is on par with or slightly ahead of Germany," Moon said. "The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is a proven, operational 3,000-ton vessel, whereas Germany would have to build its proposal from scratch."

Source: Korea Times News