Vanguard Magazine

I n August, Hanwha Ocean's KSS-III was selected as a qualified supplier. Since then, Canadian delegations have visited Hanwha Ocean's ship- yard – one of the largest and most advanced shipbuilding facilities in the world – to see the active production line for the KSS-III submarine as well as the latest KSS-III launched in October for the Republic of Korea Navy. Participants in those visits saw and toured the exact submarine being pro- posed for Canada: a proven, in-service, and in-production platform that meets and ex- ceeds all CPSP requirements, has the fast- est delivery timeline, and offers the best economic package for Canada. The KSS-III Canadian Patrol Subma- rine (KSS-III CPS) is South Korea's lat- est evolution in conventional submarine technology. It is not a design or a con- cept, but is already in active production, in the water, and in service. The KSS-III is designed to operate in some of the most complex waters in the world, including the Arctic, and is optimized for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as minelaying and support to special opera- tions forces. For Canada, schedule is a decisive factor. If on contract in 2026, Hanwha Ocean can deliver the first KSS-III CPS to Canada in 2032 and four submarines by 2035, fully replacing the current Victoria Class fleet. The remaining eight submarines would follow at a rate of one per year, delivering a full fleet of 12 by 2043. Earlier retirement of the Victoria Class would generate esti- mated savings of $1 billion in maintenance and support costs. No other option has put forward a schedule that comes close to Hanwha's timeline. The KSS-III CPS reflects decades of spiral development of a modern, conven- tional, ocean-ready submarine. Equipped with lithium-ion batteries and an Air In- dependent Propulsion (AIP) system, the submarine offers the longest submerged endurance among conventional subma- rines in service. The KSS-III CPS is fully interoperable with allies, including NATO. As the second-largest supplier of defence equipment to NATO members, South Ko- 20 DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com rea's defence industry has deep experience integrating complex systems into allied fleets while ensuring they are operated and sustained under each nation's sovereign control – in Canada's case, the KSS-III CPS will be fully maintained in Canada by Canadians. Hanwha is committed to establishing a robust and long-term strategic partner- ship with Canada in a variety of strategic areas, including defence, space, sustainable energy and critical minerals, that will cre- ate jobs and economic growth, accelerate Canada's defence capabilities, and enhance cooperation, partnership and supply chains between Canada and South Korea – a rela- tionship that is becoming more and more important, and one that supports the ob- jectives of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. Hanwha Ocean has signed Teaming Agreements and MOUs with more than a dozen Canadian companies, includ- ing Babcock Canada, Blackberry, CAE, Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies, Des Nedhe Group, Gastops, J Squared Tech- nologies, L3Harris Canada, ModestTree and PCL Construction for long-term co- operation on CPSP, and has entered into contracts with three Canadian firms. For Canada, CPSP is a national program that will determine how quickly the Royal Canadian Navy can field a new, modern, proven and capable submarine fleet, how well that fleet is supported at home, and how much long-term economic value is created for Canadian workers, companies and communities. Hanwha's KSS-III CPS is a proven, in-service and in-production solution that offers the fastest path to a modern fleet and provides the best jobs and economic package for Canada. Canada is making a once-in-a-generation decision about its next submarine fleet. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) will shape the Royal Canadian Navy's capabilities and the country's defence industrial base for decades to come. Sponsored Content PERSPECTIVE SUBMARINE FLEET CANADA'S FASTEST AND MOST ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS PATH TO A MODERN, PROVEN

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