Canada Navy Canada SSK program

[oldcpu]

What I have read suggests that the Canadian decision, as to whether choose a German Type-212CD or a South Korean KSS-III-batch-2 submarine, will depend on industrial benefits to Canada.

A recent South Korean new source (Seoul Economic Daily) is speculating that South Korea is lagging and now likely trailing the German proposal. Korea's Canada Submarine Bid Faces Headwinds as EU Partnership, Tech Leak Concerns Mount for providing the Canadian navy with new submarines[/URL].
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South Korea's bid for Canada's largest-ever submarine procurement project faces growing challenges from Germany's aggressive government-to-government package and concerns over defense technology leaks, raising questions about whether Korean shipbuilders can secure the $40 billion contract.

Go to the link for the full article.

 

[oldcpu]

Just a confirmation of what South Korea has already claimed, where this news article notes a KSS-III-batch-1 recently completed a mission of about 7,000 km. Presumably the KSS-III-batch-2 range will be equivalent or superior.

 

[urban mine]

Just a confirmation of what South Korea has already claimed, where this news article notes a KSS-III-batch-1 recently completed a mission of about 7,000 km. Presumably the KSS-III-batch-2 range will be equivalent or superior.

The KSS-III Batch-II is reported to have a cruising range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles (about 12,900 km) based on surface navigation. However, information exists suggesting Batch-I has a range of approximately 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km). Since Batch-II likely increased its underwater endurance and maximum speed maintenance time through the installation of lithium batteries, it seems somewhat odd that its range is reported to be lower than Batch-I's. I will verify this if more precise information becomes available later.

+Upon further reflection, it seems like an idea that ignores the difference between surface navigation and submerged navigation. The installation of lithium batteries is likely intended to sustain the submarine's underwater operations... If so, the difference in range between Batch-I and II seems to stem from the increased weight and displacement caused by the enhanced armament and additional lithium batteries in Batch-II. It's probably because the displacement increased by nearly 300 tons.

 

[oldcpu]

The news on the Canadian Submarine Project in the past couple of weeks has been pretty much focused on the competition between German TKMS and South Korean Hanwa Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in the subject area of proposed industrial offsets to Canada.

On a slightly different, but of interest subject of the KSS-III submarine being proposed elsewhere, I believe there are rumours that UAE is also considering procuring the KSS-III submarine (where I suspect the KSS-III-batch-2).

The UAE news source "aljundilae" (a Ministery of defence UA site? ) has a brief article on the KSS-III-batch-2, although that says nothing about UAE interest. However the news source "Tactical Report" (which is a website that specializes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)) dated 24-Dec-2025 has headlines

UAE: Al-Mazrouei’s visit to South Korea, focus on KF-21 and KSS-III submarine

The article headlines state KSS-III but the article itself states KS-II (which may be a typo and KSS-III intended in the text).

 

[oldcpu]

According to a 2-February-2026 CTV news article Hanwha Ocean and its German rival, TKMS, are required to submit their final bids by March 2, 2026.

Also in that article Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement said the federal decision would ultimately “come down to cost, timeline and economic benefits to Canada.”

 

[oldcpu]

Also in that article Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement said the federal decision would ultimately “come down to cost, timeline and economic benefits to Canada.”

Where as noted, the decision as to what submarine is to be selected comes down to cost, timeline, and Canadian economic benefits, i often still stumble across technical aspects I missed in the past. I recently noted a 25-Sep-2023 !!! article in Naval News where it states:

Moreover, the KSS-III Batch-II will operate with the Anti-Submarine Water Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (ASWUUV), developed by ADD and Hanwha. The ASWUUV is an XLUUV which will carry out enemy submarine tracking missions and conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions in friendly waters.

This had me curious, looking up to see what I could learn about the ASWUUV. I was surprised to read its a UUV designed to be launched to trail other submarines. Below is a summary of what I read, where such being unclassified it is to be taken with some skepticism:

ASWUUV Development and Capabilities The ASWUUV is a large-displacement UUV platform co-developed by South Korea’s ADD and Hanwha Systems. Current developmental models indicate a vehicle approximately 6.5 to 7 meters in length with a displacement of roughly 9 tons. It utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system to facilitate autonomous tracking of enemy submarines. The ROK Navy currently aims for the system to be operational around 2030.

Integration on the KSS-III Batch-II The KSS-III Batch-II (Jang Yeong-sil class) is the first ROK Navy submarine designed for Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). While the Batch-II features 10 VLS cells, these are currently confirmed only for ballistic and cruise missiles. Although Hanwha markets the KSS-III as having a "generous design margin" for modular payloads, the specific method for deploying the ASWUUV—whether through torpedo tubes, a future VLS modification, or external cradles—remains unconfirmed by official technical specifications as of February 2026.