South Korea Pushes Submarine Offer as Canada Nears $45 Billion Naval Acquisition Decision.

Senior Canadian officials are visiting South Korea as Ottawa advances the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a next-generation fleet effort valued at roughly USD 45 billion. The outreach signals that Canada is entering a decisive procurement window that could shape its undersea capabilities and industrial partnerships for decades.

According to a February 1, 2026, report by South Korean outlet MAEIL Business Newspaper, Canada has intensified high-level engagement with South Korea as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a program described domestically as a 60 trillion won (USD 45 billion) acquisition. Stephen Poirier, identified as Canada’s Minister of National Defence Procurement, is expected to tour major shipyards this week to review submarine construction capacity and assess conditions for industrial cooperation, a move widely viewed by defense industry observers as late-stage due diligence before final proposals are locked in.
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Launch ceremony of ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, the first South Korean KSS-III Batch-II submarine, at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, representing the next-generation 3,600-ton-class design officially offered by South Korea to Canada under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The CPSP (Canadian Patrol Submarine Project) is driven by urgent military requirements rather than fleet expansion alone. Canada currently operates four Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines, acquired second-hand from the United Kingdom in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These boats, HMCS Victoria, Windsor, Chicoutimi, and Corner Brook, remain the Royal Canadian Navy’s only undersea warfare assets. While modernized over time, the class has faced persistent availability challenges linked to age, maintenance intensity, and limited industrial depth. In operational terms, Canada often struggles to generate more than one fully mission-ready submarine at any given time, sharply constraining undersea patrols, crew proficiency, and allied tasking.

From a military perspective, the Victoria-class no longer fully matches Canada’s evolving threat environment. Initially designed for Cold War-era missions, the submarines lack the endurance, growth margins, and digital architecture required for sustained deployments across Canada’s three-ocean area of responsibility. This limitation is particularly acute in the Arctic, where submarines are increasingly viewed as one of the few assets capable of discreet surveillance, intelligence collection, and deterrence as ice coverage recedes and foreign naval activity increases. For Canadian defense planners, undersea capability is directly linked to sovereignty enforcement in northern waters and early warning against hostile naval activity.

The CPSP therefore, aims to acquire up to 12 new conventionally powered submarines, a fleet size intended to guarantee continuous availability rather than episodic presence. The objective is to sustain simultaneous operations in the Atlantic and Pacific, maintain a credible Arctic surveillance posture, and preserve sufficient hulls for training, maintenance, and surge requirements. Militarily, the future Canadian Patrol Submarine is expected to emphasize long-range, extended submerged endurance, a very low acoustic signature, and advanced sensor and combat management systems optimized for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, including the ability to integrate seamlessly with U.S. and NATO naval networks.

Within this strategic context, South Korea’s KSS-III Batch-II submarine has become a focal point of Canadian interest. The KSS-III program represents South Korea’s first domestically designed ocean-going attack submarine, and the Batch-II variant marks a significant evolution over earlier units. With a submerged displacement in the 3,600-ton class, KSS-III Batch-II is designed for long-range blue-water operations rather than coastal defense, aligning closely with Canada’s requirement for extended patrols across vast maritime distances. The class incorporates a refined hull form and advanced acoustic treatment intended to reduce radiated noise, a critical factor for survivability in contested undersea environments.

Technically, KSS-III Batch-II introduces a new generation of onboard systems compared to Batch-I boats. South Korean defense sources describe improvements in combat system architecture, sensors, and energy management, enabling longer submerged endurance and greater operational flexibility. The design is optimized to accommodate advanced batteries and future power-generation upgrades, a key consideration for navies seeking to minimize snorkeling time and increase stealth. The platform is also built with significant growth margins, allowing integration of new weapons, sensors, and communications systems over its service life, an aspect closely watched by Canadian planners seeking a 40-year solution rather than a short-term replacement.

The submarine that Minister Poirier is expected to board, ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, is the first KSS-III Batch-II unit launched and serves as a tangible demonstration of Korea’s industrial maturity. For Canada, the importance of this platform extends beyond its specifications. It provides visible proof of serial production capability, workforce stability, and supply chain depth, all of which are central to Ottawa’s effort to avoid delays and cost overruns. In military terms, a design already moving through sea trials and fleet induction reduces developmental risk at a time when Canada cannot afford a prolonged capability gap.

Submarines also play a central role in Canada’s NATO commitments. In the North Atlantic, allied naval commanders have refocused on undersea warfare as Russian submarine patrols return to patterns reminiscent of the Cold War. Canadian submarines are valued within the alliance for covert intelligence gathering and for providing realistic opposition forces during allied anti-submarine warfare exercises. However, the limited availability of the Victoria-class has reduced Canada’s ability to contribute consistently, reinforcing political and military pressure to field a modern, reliable replacement force capable of sustained deployments.

Despite South Korea’s strong positioning, the CPSP remains a competitive international contest. Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is widely seen as a leading rival, offering mature designs derived from its Type 212 and Type 214 families, known for acoustic discretion and NATO interoperability. France’s Naval Group brings experience in large ocean-going conventional submarines designed for sustained deployments far from home waters. Spain’s Navantia, following advances with the S-80 program, has entered strategic discussions, while Japan’s advanced submarine technologies are occasionally mentioned, though industrial and political factors may complicate such an option.

Army Recognition understands from defense industry sources that Canada’s evaluation places decisive weight on military readiness, delivery timelines, and sustainment resilience. With the Victoria-class approaching the end of its viable service life in the early to mid-2030s, any delay in the CPSP would risk leaving Canada without a credible submarine capability during a period of heightened Arctic competition and renewed great-power rivalry at sea.

Ultimately, the CPSP represents a strategic reset for the Royal Canadian Navy. A fleet of up to 12 modern submarines would restore a persistent undersea presence, strengthen Canada’s contribution to allied naval operations, and reinforce national sovereignty across vast maritime approaches. As senior officials continue their inspections and negotiations, the program stands out as one of the most consequential military acquisition decisions Canada will make in a generation, with the KSS-III Batch-II now clearly positioned as one of the most closely scrutinized benchmarks in the competition.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.