Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025 23 secures not only the timely delivery of the fleet but also predictability for training and a seamless transition from the Victoria Class to the future submarines. Just as important, this partnership en- sures continuity of Canada's submarine sustainment enterprise. Through Babcock's hard-earned expertise, trusted supplier re- lationships, and highly-skilled workforce, Canada will be able to further build on an already established foundation, eliminating the risks associated from starting over with an untested in-service support provider. With Hanwha's platform and Babcock's proven sustainment leadership, Canada will strengthen its defence industrial base, create thousands of high-value jobs, and ensure sovereign control of its submarine capabil- ity for generations to come. Meeting the Needs of the Royal Canadian Navy As signalled by the Government of Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy, the first sub- marine of the new fleet is expected to be in the water by 2035 to prevent a capability gap as the Victoria Class retires. Hanwha Ocean is the only shipbuilder that can com- mit to this timeline at the scale needed by Canada. With a contract award in 2026, Hanwha Ocean has committed to deliver not one, but four new submarines by 2035, with the first arriving in 2032, followed by additional vessels at a pace of one per year. This unmatched delivery schedule com- bined with Babcock's extensive Canadian sustainment expertise and invaluable in- sights from leading the VISSC, gives Canada the fastest and most reliable path to a new and greatly enhanced submarine capability. Through their teaming agreement, Hanwha Ocean and Babcock have com- mitted to start this partnership on day one. By investing in sustainment while the first submarine is being built, Canada will be prepared to operate and maintain its new fleet seamlessly from the moment it ar- rives. This collaboration ensures not just delivery of advanced submarines, but also the retention and growth of a sovereign Canadian sustainment expertise. Together, Hanwha Ocean and Babcock will deliver an all-encompassing, purpose- built, and sovereign Canadian sustainment solution — one that secures operational availability for the Royal Canadian Navy and delivers defence, economic, and resil- iency benefits to Canadians for generations to come. pendent propulsion system, it offers un- matched submerged endurance among conventional submarines in service today. The platform also delivers a full spectrum of capabilities, including: Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Strike, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais- sance, and supporting Special Operations. With Hanwha Ocean, Canada would join the ROKN in operating the KSS-III and have the support of a parent navy who are committed to the design, hav- ing ordered six submarines themselves and vastly strengthen its Asia-Pacific ties. Canada would also benefit from a proven and existing platform that is backed by an established Korean supply chain with validated operational and maintenance data. This global reach-back also supports the Canadian in-service support solution and the Royal Canadian Navy, enabling opportunities for system improvements, global training support, and capability insertions throughout the vessels' opera- tional lives. Access to the shipbuilder's platform knowledge eliminates many of the challenges encountered with the Vic- toria Class submarines, and helps maxi- mize Canadian control and participation. Regional and Economic Benefit The selection of Hanwha Ocean to deliver Canada's next-generation submarine fleet, paired with Babcock as the in-service sup- port partner, offers Canada a capable plat- form and a proven pathway to maximize long-term economic impact. Together, the Team will ensure that Canada's invest- ment in new submarines delivers enduring benefits to Canadians through jobs, infra- structure, skills development, and supply chain growth in the marine sector. Babcock's record on the VISSC demon- strates what this partnership can achieve. Over the past 17 years, Babcock has gen- erated more than $3.2 billion in GDP impact, sustaining nearly 2,500 Canadian jobs annually, more than half of which are in STEM fields. Babcock has also led the development of a network of over 450 suppliers while building Canada's only submarine sustainment capability, with Canadian small and medium-sized busi- nesses contributing approximately $235 million in GDP impact. With the CPSP, the opportunity is even greater. Hanwha has already signalled its commitment to deep Canadian industrial participation, partnering with Canadian firms across training, simulation, and ad- vanced technologies. Coupled with Bab- cock's existing and growing Canadian supply chain and ability to scale a subma- rine-qualified workforce, this ensures that Canadian companies are embedded from the start - not as subcontractors, but as in- tegral partners in both build and sustain- ment. Significant investment will be required to support the new fleet, including mod- ernized infrastructure, workforce expan- sion, and advanced training. The Team of Babcock and Hanwha Ocean is actively investigating how to bring the proven ROKN submarine sustainment infrastruc- ture solutions to Canada, exploring po- tential submarine maintenance sites and planning investments on both coasts and across the country. By making these in- vestments while steel is being cut, Canada Sponsored Content PERSPECTIVE

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