According to local media, including CTV News and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Prime Minister Carney will reveal the preferred bidder for the Canadian Navy's next-generation submarine program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 6.
However, this announcement will not finalize a contract but will instead identify the preferred bidder, with further negotiations likely before a final agreement is reached, the Globe and Mail reported.
The schedule released by the Prime Minister's Office supports this view. Carney is set to depart the Ottawa area at 1:10 p.m. local time and travel to Halifax.
He will visit a Canadian military base in Halifax at 4:50 p.m. (5:50 a.m. Korean time) and then announce new measures to enhance Canada’s security, resilience, and prosperity at 5:10 p.m. (6:10 a.m. Korean time).
Local media speculate that the new security measures announced by the Prime Minister's Office are likely related to the next-generation submarine program. After the announcement, Carney is scheduled to depart for Ankara, Turkey, to attend a NATO summit.
Canada's next submarine program involves up to 12 vessels, with Hanwha Ocean's KSS-III Batch II and TKMS's 212CD competing. The Canadian government has indicated that both candidates meet naval requirements, focusing on economic impact, long-term maintenance, and strategic partnerships as key evaluation criteria.
Hanwha Ocean has proposed over 70 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 75 trillion won) in trade and investment in Canada by 2044, contributing 96.3 billion Canadian dollars (about 104 trillion won) to the GDP and creating over 430,000 jobs. TKMS has pledged over 160 billion Canadian dollars (around 172 trillion won) in economic activity, contributing 86 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 93 trillion won) to the GDP and creating over 650,000 jobs.
The Globe and Mail noted that if Hanwha Ocean is selected, it would mark the first instance of the Canadian government acquiring a major weapon platform from a non-Western supplier, reflecting Canada’s heightened interest in the Indo-Pacific region. Philip Lagasse, a professor at Carleton University, remarked, "Entering the submarine market in Canada, a key NATO ally, holds significant implications for South Korea."
Conversely, if TKMS is chosen, it could strengthen NATO-level Arctic defense cooperation among Germany, Norway, and Canada. CBC highlighted that if Canada selects TKMS, the three countries would operate the same type of submarine, enhancing NATO's strategic advantages.
However, the atmosphere remains uncertain regarding the outcome. The South Korean government believes that Hanwha Ocean and TKMS are in a tight race. On July 1, Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff at the Blue House, responded to a question about South Korea's chances of securing the submarine contract by stating, "If we were to score it, I would say it's about 50-50."
In contrast, German officials have expressed confidence. Lars Klingbeil, Germany's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Defense, visited the TKMS facility on July 3 and asserted, "The entire German federal government is conducting a comprehensive campaign to ensure successful defense cooperation with Canada," claiming, "We are in a very favorable position on multiple fronts."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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