Hanwha Teams With Canadian Firms, Universities for Next-Gen Patrol Submarine Program
South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has signed five industry teaming agreements and three memoranda of understanding with Canadian companies and universities in support of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
The CPSP was conceptualized in 2021 to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines, commissioned in the 1990s and scheduled for retirement in the 2030s, with up to 12 new platforms starting in 2035.
The deals are designed to bolster innovation, manufacturing capacity, and workforce development, aligned with the Canadian government’s “Buy Canadian” policy and Industrial and Technological Benefits requirements.
Each teaming agreement forms a three-party collaboration between Hanwha Ocean, a Canadian company, and a South Korean or international technology partner.
Organizations Involved
Among the partnerships, GeoSpectrum Technologies and Ultra Maritime, both headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, will work with South Korea’s LIG Nex1 on underwater acoustic sonar and undersea warfare systems.
Meanwhile, Aspin Kemp & Associates of Prince Edward Island and J-Squared Technologies of Kanata, Ontario, will collaborate with KTE in Seoul on power distribution, electrical and control systems, embedded computing, and integrated platform management systems.
The framework also includes Montreal-based Safran Trusted 4D Canada and Safran Electronics & Defense of France on optronics, inertial navigation systems, radar, and defense electronics for submarine and naval programs.
For research projects, Hanwha Ocean partnered with the University of Toronto, the University of New Brunswick, and Dalhousie University, covering fields such as AI-enabled naval systems, simulation technologies, underwater acoustics, Arctic-capable vessels, and automated systems to reduce crew requirements.
‘Future-Ready’ Industry
Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Defence Canada, explained that integrating Canada’s advanced technologies with South Korea’s established submarine manufacturing expertise enables the CPSP consortium to provide capabilities that support the North American country’s incoming fleet and other national interests.
“CPSP represents an opportunity to build long-term industrial partnerships that deliver real value for Canada,” Copeland stated.
“Through these agreements, we are strengthening domestic capabilities, supporting regional economic development, and helping build a future-ready Canadian defence workforce.”
