South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has signed five industry teaming agreements and three memoranda of understanding with Canadian companies and universities to support development work related to the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The CPSP initiative, introduced in 2021, aims to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s aging Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines with a new fleet of up to 12 modern platforms beginning in 2035. The Victoria-class submarines, originally commissioned in the 1990s, are expected to reach the end of their service life during the 2030s. Hanwha Ocean’s new agreements are designed to strengthen innovation, manufacturing capacity, and workforce development while aligning with Canada’s “Buy Canadian” policy and Industrial and Technological Benefits framework. Under the structure of the partnerships, each teaming agreement involves collaboration between Hanwha Ocean, a Canadian company, and an international or South Korean technology partner. Several Canadian firms will play key roles in underwater warfare technologies. GeoSpectrum Technologies and Ultra Maritime, both based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, will collaborate with South Korean defense company LIG Nex1 to develop underwater acoustic sonar systems and other undersea warfare capabilities. Additional partnerships focus on submarine power systems and onboard technologies. Aspin Kemp & Associates from Prince Edward Island and J-Squared Technologies from Kanata, Ontario, will work with KTE in Seoul to develop power distribution solutions, electrical and control systems, embedded computing platforms, and integrated platform management technologies. The agreements also include collaboration between Montreal-based Safran Trusted 4D Canada and France’s Safran Electronics & Defense to support submarine and naval systems involving optronics, inertial navigation technology, radar solutions, and defense electronics. Beyond industry partnerships, Hanwha Ocean is also engaging Canadian academic institutions to support research and development. The University of Toronto, the University of New Brunswick, and Dalhousie University will contribute expertise in areas including artificial intelligence-enabled naval systems, advanced simulation technologies, underwater acoustics, Arctic-capable vessel design, and automated technologies aimed at reducing crew requirements. According to Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Defence Canada, combining Canada’s technological strengths with South Korea’s experience in submarine construction could enable the CPSP consortium to deliver advanced capabilities that support Canada’s future naval fleet and broader strategic interests.
