Analysts say Berlin and Ottawa’s shared Nato membership remains a significant political obstacle for Seoul
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenThe Korea TimesPublished: 2:34pm, 21 Jun 2026The South Korean government and defence players are making last-ditch efforts to win Canada’s next-generation submarine project worth up to 60 trillion won (US$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 ageing fleet of four Victoria-class submarines will be replaced with 12 new 3,000-tonne diesel-electric vessels. The comprehensive contract includes long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) life cycles.
Hanwha Ocean’s bid centres on the 3,000-tonne 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 main selling point is its proven track record, as it is already actively deployed and operated by the South Korean Navy.
Moon Keun-sik, a professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of Public Policy and a former South Korean submarine captain, believes Seoul holds a slight technological edge.
