South Korea aims to ink a $24 billion dollar submarine deal.

South Korea aims to ink a 24 billion dollar submarine deal: With Canada.

South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), has proposed a $24 billion deal for submarines to meet the needs of Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project. This project is prioritized by the Department of Defence as Canada's flagship military initiative for the 2030s, aiming to acquire 12 new submarines capable of defending the world's longest coastline. The ROK is offering its advanced Block 3 KSS-III diesel-electric submarines (SSK) featuring Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), which allows for submerged endurance of approximately 20 days.

The ROK's proposal aligns with Canada's requirement to have new submarines in service by 2035, with plans to provide four submarines in Canadian service by that date. By the late 2030s, Canada will retire all of its Victoria-class submarines.

The delivery of the 12 submarines will be fulfilled by Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries, who are designing and building submarines that include vertical launch systems (VLS) to accommodate potential next-generation cruise, hypersonic, or ballistic missiles. Specific details about these capabilities remain classified. The collaboration with Hanwha Defence is notable since the currently operational Victoria-class submarines are maintained by Babcock International, a U.K. company that installed the weapon handling system in the initial batch of ROK Navy submarines.

Submarines Before 2035 and a New Industrial Partnership: The South Korean Offer...

The proposal emphasizes advanced submarine technology, including technology transfer agreements and delivery of four submarines by 2035. The Canadian Navy's capabilities have been declining due to a lack of funds and partnerships. The KSS-III, with its AIP system and stealth features, meets Canada’s strategic needs for Arctic deployability and operations under the ice.

The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is an initiative by the Canadian Navy to acquire up to 12 new submarines capable of under-ice operations. This reflects a strategic shift aimed at enhancing Arctic and maritime security. The project focuses on stealth, endurance, and industrial collaboration, intending to replace aging Victoria-class submarines. It also seeks to strengthen Canada’s defence and sovereignty over its maritime approaches. The KSS-III meets all of Canada's technological and industrial goals, including local manufacturing, training, and technology transfer. However, it raises questions about maintaining a traditional Canadian-American military partnership, especially given the lack of an American alternative.

The Submarines on offer: KS-III and DSME-3000: Advanced Diesel-Electric designs.

The submarines offered to Canada will be a variant slightly different from the ROK's KSS-III, known as the DSME-3000. This 3,300-ton diesel-electric variant is an export design with a length of 83.5 meters, a beam of 9.7 meters, and a crew complement of over 40, including space for 10 special forces commandos. It can achieve an underwater speed of 37 km/h and has a cruising range of 19,000 km, or 20 submerged days. 

The design incorporates an arrangement of eight 533 mm (21 inches) forward-firing torpedo tubes, with 16 stowed torpedoes. This configuration can be supplemented with various naval mines and tube-launched or VLS-launched anti-ship missiles. The submarine will also feature a flexible weapon-launching system, supported by the maintainers of Canada's aging Victoria-class fleet. 

The Canadian submarines will be equipped with an AIP module and lithium-ion batteries, along with an advanced sonar suite that includes:

• - Cylindrical Hydrophone Array
• - Intercept Detection and Ranging Sonar
• - Flank Array Sonar
• - Passive Ranging Sonar
• - Active Operation Sonar
• - Towed Array Sonar

The mast-sensor suite will feature:

• - Electronic support measures (ESM)
• - Satellite communication (SATCOM)
• - Radar
• - Up to two retractable communication masts
• - Optronics

Canada has emphasized the need for new procurement opportunities, considering that its Victoria-class submarines were commissioned between 1990 and 1993 and were purchased used from the Royal Navy (UK) in 1998. Notably, the fourth submarine experienced a fire in transit to Canada in 2004, delaying its acceptance into the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) service until 2015. 

The current submarine fleet is expected to remain operational into the mid-to-late 2030s through the Victoria-class Modernization (VCM) project. The RCN requires the first new submarine to be delivered by the mid-2030s to ensure a seamless transition between classes without capability gaps. 

“Canada’s key submarine capability requirements will be stealth, lethality, persistence, and Arctic deployability, meaning that the submarine must have extended operational capabilities in these areas.”ed range and endurance."

Canadian Submarine Replacement Project

                                                                                ©  Kristopher Richey 2025