Race to build CanadaÕs next submarine fleet

Canada is preparing to acquire 12 conventionally-powered submarines
to replace its ageing fleet of Victoria-class boats, with rival designs
from Germany and South Korea competing for the lucrative contract

TKMS* Type 212CD: Developed for German and Norwegian navies,
first vessel due to enter service in 2029

Design: Prioritises stealth, with
diamond-shaped hull to reduce
sonar detectability

Displacement: 2,500 tonnes

Crew: 28-35

Six torpedo
tubes

73m

Propulsion: 2 x MTU 4000 diesel-
electric engines with air-independent
propulsion (AIP) fuel cell system

Armament: Torpedoes, anti-ship
missiles, short-range surface-to-air
missiles, anti-torpedo defences

Schedule: TKMS offering Canada four submarines by 2036 Ð achieved
by Germany and Norway temporarily giving up one boat from production line

*ThyssenKrupp

Marine Systems
Hanwha Ocean KSS-III: Batch-I class currently in service with
South Korean navy. Canada being offered larger Batch-II class

Design: Prioritises firepower, includes
vertical launch system (VLS) capability

Displacement: 3,600 tonnes

Crew: 50

Conventional
cylindrical hull

Ten VLS cells/hatches

Six torpedo tubes

89m

Propulsion: 3 x MTU 4000
diesel-electric engines combined
with AIP fuel cell system

Armament: Torpedoes, ballistic
missiles, anti-ship and land attack
cruise missiles, mobile mines

Schedule: Canada could receive four submarines by 2035, with additional
eight vessels delivered at rate of one per year up until 2043

Sources: Naval Technology, The Canadian Press
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