Britain's defense push adds new variable to Canada submarine equation
Britain's latest defense spending plan has added a new variable to Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine equation, strengthening South Korea's industrial partnership with London as Seoul and Germany compete for one of Ottawa's biggest military contracts. The British government on Tuesday unveiled an additional 15 billion pounds ($20 billion) in military spending, focusing on drones, autonomous systems, next-generation fighter aircraft and othe
Canada submarine race turns winner-take-all as final decision nears
Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine competition is increasingly shaping into a winner-take-all contest after the country's defense minister publicly highlighted the financial and operational drawbacks of operating two different submarine fleets. The remarks weaken speculation that Ottawa could split its planned order of up to 12 submarines between South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as a political comp
Canada says split submarine order unlikely due to higher costs
Canada is unlikely to divide its planned submarine order between South Korean and German bidders because operating two different fleets would increase costs and complexity, the country’s defense minister said. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, or CPSP, calls for the acquisition of up to 12 diesel-powered submarines to replace Canada’s aging Victoria-class fleet. The total value of the project, including construction and 30 years of maintenance
Language, alliances emerge as new fronts in Canada's submarine race
Outsourcing submarines was never expected to become this complex, as the head-to-head contest between South Korean and German shipbuilders for Canada's fleet of 12 new submarines increasingly extends beyond price, technology and delivery schedules to language, industrial partnerships and geopolitical alliances. The latest twist came after a senior executive at Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) argued that Canada's long-term interests wou
Canada's sub project tests viability of 12-vessel fleet
Canada's multibillion-dollar plan to acquire 12 advanced submarines is increasingly becoming a test of workforce capacity as much as military procurement, with the country's marine industry projected to face a shortage of more than 8,000 skilled workers by the end of the decade. The emerging labor crunch is raising questions over how Ottawa will staff two specialized submarine maintenance hubs planned for the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, just as it pre
Team Korea throws gas project to sweeten sub pitch to Canada
The Canadian submarine contest is getting bigger and bigger as decision day nears, with Team Korea led by Hanwha Ocean throwing in a $16 billion floating liquefied natural gas project and pitching a broader economic partnership that could help Ottawa reduce its dependence on the United States as an energy market to counter Germany's NATO leverage. The Korean team is targeting a strategic vulnerability. Canada is the world's fifth-largest natural gas
HD Hyundai Heavy challenges KDDX evaluation over security penalty
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has filed a formal objection to the evaluation results for South Korea’s next-generation destroyer program after losing to Hanwha Ocean by less than one point, industry sources said Monday. The company submitted the objection to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration over the bidding process for the detailed design and construction of the lead vessel under the Korean Destroyer Next Generation, or KDDX, program. HD H
NATO looms over Canada's Korea-Germany submarine choice
Canada's $40 billion submarine procurement is evolving from an industrial contest into a geopolitical choice, with an upcoming NATO summit poised to give Germany an edge over South Korea by elevating alliance politics over delivery speed. South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, are entering the final stretch of the race to win a contract to deliver 12 submarines to replace Canada's aging Victoria-class fle
Canada's submarine choice extends beyond hardware to workers and allies
Canada's plan to acquire up to 12 new submarines is entering a decisive phase, but mounting concerns over labor shortages, industrial capacity and military interoperability suggest choosing a winning bidder may be the easiest part of the program. South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, are the two finalists for the multibillion-dollar contract, with Ottawa expected to make a decision within weeks. But as th
U.S. Senate panel moves to allow overseas construction of noncombat naval ships
A U.S. Senate panel is seeking to allow some noncombat Navy vessels to be built at shipyards in allied countries, a move that could create opportunities for South Korean shipbuilders. According to a summary of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act released by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the bill would authorize the procurement of up to two bulk fuel carriers or strategic sealift vessels from overseas shipyards. The proposal