At
the moment South Korea, in the shape of Hanwha Ocean (was DSME) appears to be the
most determined contender for the long term (15-20 years) Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
In
late 2023 Hanwha signed MoUs with four Canadian companies (CAE, J-Squared
Technologies, Modest Tree and Des Nedhe) https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/11/hanwha-ocean-signed-mou-with-four-canadian-firms-for-patrol-submarine-project/
Earlier, in June 2023, Hanwha Ocean signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with (project advisory and designer?) Babcock Canada aimed at the CPSP. https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/madex-2023/2023/06/babcock-and-hanwha-ocean-sign-a-technical-cooperation-agreement-for-the-canadian-patrol-submarine-project/
Canada, over the next 15-20 years is seeking:
- between six and twelve submarines (probably the RCN submarine service would prefer twelve)
- that are foreign built (to contain costs and reduce project period (eg. avoiding the build locally disease).
- of existing design, with minimal alterations (to reduce technical risk and avoid all of the spares shortages and other downsides of operating an orphan submarine). Canada is very mindful of Australian downsides eg. that produced the orphan Collins-class and almost led to the orphan and grandiose Attack-class.
- large (probably 3,000 tonnes (surfaced)).
- for oceanic long range, long endurance, probably requiring 50+ crew
- diesel-electric (the US clearly did not apply AUKUS Pillar 1 (SSN) reasoning to Canada or Canada didn't want to pay a whole-of-life $Half Trillion for an 8 x SSN Project),
- with AIP for significant under-ice capability (but still a limited capability (time and safety wise) and with no speed ability to chase down Russian or Chinese SSNs or SSBNs)
- maybe also with Lithium-ion batteries for discrete longer term full submergence.
Canada very much wants to avoid a repeat of operating a dead-end/orphan class of only four secondhand (rusty) submarines like its existing Upholder-Victoria class. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upholder/Victoria-class_submarine
Canada far preferred, the three new Oberons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon-class_submarine#Canadian_acquisition that it operated prior to the Upholders-Victorias. The UK built Oberons operated in five navies (including the parent UK RN) which made upgrades and overhauls less technically risky and less expensive.
Three or four subs is far too few for Canada's 3 Ocean (Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic) Navy. This geographical reality may justify 9 to 12 subs.
I think there may be three decent contenders for the CPSP that I'll write about next week. Can you guess which 3 subs?