Canada has stepped up senior-level engagement with South Korea as Ottawa advances the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a next-generation undersea acquisition valued at approximately USD 45 billion. The outreach signals that Canada is entering a decisive phase of the procurement process, one that will shape the Royal Canadian Navy’s submarine capabilities and industrial partnerships for decades.
As part of the visit, senior Canadian defense procurement officials are expected to tour South Korean shipyards to assess submarine production capacity and explore options for industrial cooperation. Defense industry observers view the engagement as late-stage due diligence, indicating that Canada is narrowing its field of contenders ahead of final proposal submissions. The CPSP has been described domestically as a 60 trillion won program, reflecting both its scale and strategic importance.
The program is driven by pressing operational requirements rather than fleet growth alone. Canada’s current undersea force consists of four aging Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines acquired from the United Kingdom more than two decades ago. While upgraded over time, the boats have faced persistent availability challenges, often limiting the Royal Canadian Navy to a single deployable submarine. These constraints have reduced patrol coverage, training continuity, and allied interoperability.
Under CPSP, Canada aims to acquire up to 12 new conventionally powered submarines capable of sustained operations in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. The future fleet is expected to prioritize long-range endurance, low acoustic signatures, and advanced sensors compatible with U.S. and NATO networks. South Korea’s KSS-III Batch-II submarine, designed for blue-water operations and extended patrols, is increasingly viewed as a strong candidate aligned with Canada’s sovereignty and deterrence requirements.
