Hanwha Ocean, Babcock join forces on Canadian Patrol Submarine Project 

Hanwha Ocean and Babcock Canada have joined forces to pursue a joint approach for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

On the sidelines of the United Kingdom – Republic of Korea Defence Logistics Committee in London, representatives from both companies met to explore and develop sovereign sustainment and long-term employment pathways in Canada.

The team’s proposed solution places long-term employment, skills transfer, and industrial participation in Canada at the core of its delivery. The companies also discussed localization strategies, including the development of Canadian solutions to enable the patriation of Babcock’s weapons handling and launch discharge system, an important component of Hanwha Ocean’s KSS-III submarine platform.

Under this partnership, Hanwha Ocean will bring its in-service KSS-III submarine platform together with extensive shipbuilding expertise. Meanwhile, Babcock will give deep submarine sustainment understanding and experience, a highly specialized Canadian workforce and supply chain, and critical subsystems, including the weapons handling and launch discharge system and key torpedo tube components.

Working alongside Hanwha Ocean, Babcock will lead localisation efforts in Canada.

“CPSP is not just about delivering a submarine platform. It is about building long-term industrial capability and skilled jobs in Canada,” said Charlie SC Eoh, President of Naval Ship Business at Hanwha Ocean.

“Through our partnership, with Babcock at the centre of localisation, we are committed to supporting sovereign sustainment and lasting workforce development for Canada.”

“To successfully deliver and operate a fleet of this magnitude from coast to coast to coast, significant investment and commitment will be made, giving Canada a transformational opportunity with significant economic value,” said Tony March, CEO, Babcock Canada.

“Our team is committed to employing Canadians across all lines of business, through our supply chain, ITB investments, and future infrastructure developments. Our Canadian specialists, alongside Hanwha Ocean, will deliver an all-encompassing, purpose-built, and sovereign Canadian sustainment solution that will meet our Nation’s defense and economic needs for generations to come.”

The CPSP is a flagship program aimed at acquiring twelve submarines to recapitalize the Canadian Navy’s fleet and strengthen Canada’s long-term maritime sovereignty across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic.

The CPSP is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most significant and complex defense procurement programs, strongly emphasizing industrial participation, sovereign sustainment, and long-term workforce development.

Hanwha Ocean highlighted that it has “the fastest delivery schedule, able to deliver four KSS-III submarines to fully replace Canada’s current Victoria-class fleet before 2035 if on contract in 2026”.

The company also noted that the earlier retirement of the Victoria-class fleet will result in estimated savings of approximately $1 billion in maintenance and support costs.

The additional eight submarines will be delivered at a rate of one per year, meaning the entire fleet of 12 submarines will be delivered to Canada by 2043, the firm concluded.

To remind, Hanwha Ocean recently launched Hanwha Defence Canada in Ottawa, appointing former Royal Canadian Navy officer Glenn Copeland as Managing Director and CEO.

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