Babcock Canada has signed a teaming agreement with South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean to support the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), one of the largest conventional submarine procurements in modern history.
The deal makes Babcock the exclusive in-service support partner for Hanwha Ocean’s bid, building on a 2021 memorandum of understanding and a 2022 technical cooperation agreement between the firms. Hanwha Ocean was recently shortlisted as one of two qualified suppliers by the Canadian government.
If selected, the programme would see Canada acquire up to 12 new submarines, with the first four delivered by 2035. Hanwha has said it can provide the first KSS-III variant in just six years from contract award, followed by one per year thereafter.
Tony March, CEO of Babcock Canada, said the agreement “further strengthens our existing relationship with Hanwha Ocean and enables the combination of both organisations’ extensive experience on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.”
Steve Jeong, Hanwha Ocean’s head of naval ship global business, argued that the partnership offers Canada “the lowest risk and most reliable solution to ensure optimal availability of the submarine fleet.”
Babcock, which sustains the UK’s Royal Navy submarine fleet, already leads Canada’s submarine sustainment enterprise, providing long-term support for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class. Hanwha brings extensive design and construction expertise, positioning the team to offer both build and through-life sustainment.
The CPSP is intended to replace Canada’s ageing Victoria-class with a modern fleet able to operate across the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic. For Ottawa, the project is framed as a “transformational opportunity” to enhance maritime security and sovereignty.
Small AIP SSBN’s.
Hmmm, what’s not to like ?
How do you work the B & N into that?
These are neither nuclear nor balistic.