Germany, Supplier of 70% of NATO Submarine Fleet, Favored to Win Canadian Contract

The preferred bidder for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), Canada's next-generation submarine program, is set to be announced on April 7 (KST). The total project scale, including vessel construction costs and long-term maintenance and operation, is estimated at up to 60 trillion won. The Royal Canadian Navy aims to acquire up to 12 conventionally powered submarines capable of long-range operations and deployment in Arctic waters to replace its aging Victoria-class submarines.

The bidding competition has narrowed into a showdown between Hanwha Ocean and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Hanwha Ocean has proposed a Canadian variant of the KSS-III submarine, based on the Jangbogo-III Batch-II design. German firm TKMS is proposing a derivative of the Type 212CD, highlighting its experience in cooperation among NATO member states and its history of submarine supply.

There is growing speculation that Canada may tilt towards the German option if Ottawa places significant weight on its cooperation with existing NATO allies and Germany's record of supplying 70% of the alliance's submarine fleet. This potential shift is driven by the prospect of enhanced interoperability across a total fleet of 24 submarines among Germany, Norway, and Canada.