South Korea’s latest effort to be the builder of Canada’s next submarines surfaced in Victoria, showcasing what could develop if the country is chosen as the successful bid.
Two warships, originally from South Korea’s Jinhae Naval Base, arrived after a two-month journey with the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changhosubmarine and ROKS Daejeon both making port on Saturday.
Rear Adm. David Patchell, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, said he was “incredibly thankful” the South Koreans made their way to Victoria.
“It’s excitement about the Royal Canadian Navy that we are building,” he said. “We are about to purchase brand new submarines. We’re building new destroyers, new supply ships …We are building the navy Canada needs to defend all three of our oceans.”
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 built the two ships being seen in Victoria.
Over the past few months, Hanwha ads promoting its KSS-III submarine have been popping up all over including on YouTube ads, on 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 has also said it would build its military vehicles in Canada in partnership with the domestic auto sector, including mobile howitzers, rocket launch systems and infantry vehicles. But that hinges on them being the successful bidder.
“As you know, there’s an investment case that goes with this that the Canadian government has asked for,” said Glenn Copeland, CEO for Hanwha Canada. “But certainly what we’ve heard loud and clear is to deliver the first four submarines as quickly as possible with no modifications to the batch too.”
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The KSS-III that arrived in Victoria is the type that will be delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy, with an arrival time of 2032.
Canada is hoping to get 12 submarines, Patchell said, which he added would make the country a “submarine nation.”
TKMS did not comment on aspects of the bid while the government is assessing them, spokesperson Nils Beyer said in April, but said the strength of the overall strategy is the “depth of government-backed engagement” supporting it.
Beyer said this includes targeted investment mechanisms, strategic infrastructure supports, and financial frameworks that enable long-term delivery.
The German producer’s bid is supported by the governments of Germany and Norway, which are selling it to Canadian officials as more of a partnership with NATO allies.
The longtime sub maker has also sought to include Canadian companies in its supply chain and prospective bid. Beyer pointed to TKMS forging 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 need them yesterday,” Patchell said. “Canada needs a navy. We are the largest maritime, the longest coastline in the world, 244,000 kilometres stretched across three oceans. So we need a navy, we always need a navy, and we’ve always needed submarines.”
perhaps they could talk to FN and build modified canoe with battery power arrows
On other news sites… The submarines are Diesel Electric, with Lithium batteries. Just what the Liberals want… a hybrid submarine.
Interesting fact: Because they are basically surface, diesel boats, they had to refuel in Guam and Hawaii on the way here. They have not got great range.
Lithium batteries would give them more time under water than the used British subs we bought last time. However, would you want to be 300′ underwater, with a lithium battery fire? Brave men of the Canadian Navy…
wat, build own sub? That interfere with climate action, not feasible need WAR ship big ones not modified sailing boats, destroyers are toyota easy sink, little countries have better navy.
We do need a navy. We do not need submarines. Patchell needs to be relieved. We have never used our submarine fleet (it was too dangerous to deploy). We need patrol vessels for the Arctic, We need destroyers for the other waters. We need supply vessels and coast guard vessels.
Why is Carnival Carney pushing useless submarines? He should be correcting Rear Admiral Patchell. Buying subs to make him look good is not a good reason.
Why not build submarine in Brampton ?
Many Subway workers could help part time
Korean junk.Just like Kia engines.
Why can’t we build our own ? We have the resources and technologies.
After World War 2, Canada had the fourth largest navy in the world. Then we voted in Liberals.
Sad Canada with all its land and resources has to buy submarines from little South Korea, buy Volvo trucks and heavy machinery from little Sweden. Yet Canada can barely export maple syrup.
We dont need submarines we need air and surface fleet capability.
Anonymous
May 24, 2026 at 8:49 pm
This shows how useless our government is. Why are we having another country build the subs? Disgusting . This is just like BC getting our Ferries build outside of Canada and we do have a supposed ship building facility
Not just outside of Canada but from China using Chinese steel and aluminum which we have a lot of. Elbows up!
Heck yea Elbows up, lets give away more Canadian jobs.
Too bad there was no business case to sell natural gas to South Korea.
So we can’t make our own subs and create jobs? Elbows up… lol
@Anon Tell us when a Canadian firm has ever built a military submarine?
Carney will try to line his pocket with this sub deal.
Hey Global, how about a story about the 15 year old girl in Winnipeg who has been charged for setting fire to a visiting American minor league baseball team’s bus?
This shows how useless our government is. Why are we having another country build the subs? Disgusting . This is just like BC getting our Ferries build outside of Canada and we do have a supposed ship building facility
how about we put off buying subs and help the people of Canada out with lower taxes, better house buying plans, food inflation, housing inflation, fuel costs, gst , etc, tec