Canada chooses German firm as preferred submarine provider
· Toronto Sun
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OTTAWA — Under pressure from allies for dragging its anchors on domestic defence spending, Canada’s taking a multi-billion-dollar dive with a German defence contractor to ensure our sub-par naval defences don’t completely sink.
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Speaking to reporters from the deck of a Canadian warship in Halifax, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed rumours that Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) had been chosen as Canada’s preferred supplier to provide up to 12 submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy.
“Submarines that can patrol without being detected can stop our adversaries from accessing our territories and project our strength in waters where no other ships can be as efficient,” the PM told reporters in French.
“The Royal Canadian Navy has been doing its job marvellously, but the Victoria-class submarines are now at the end of their lifespan.”
Process will have ‘greatest economic impact’ of any defence investment: Carney
Last year, both TKMS and Hanwha Ocean of South Korea were announced as the two finalists in the ongoing process to replace Canada’s obsolete Victoria-class submarines — of which only one of the four in Canada’s fleet is considered seaworthy.
As for specific terms of the deal, Carney declined to offer details — saying that Canada doesn’t negotiate in public.
“What I can confirm today is that we have already provisioned for the costs of purchasing these submarines in our fiscal framework, it’s already in the budget,” Carney said.
“I can confirm that this procurement will be the largest in Canadian history and that, by design … this process will have far and away the greatest economic impact of any defence investment right across Canada,” Carney said.
The PM added that if negotiations with TKMS don’t pan out, they reserve the right to enter into an agreement with Hanwha Ocean.
New boats will be NATO-interoperable
“This was a difficult, close decision between two highly qualified suppliers,” Carney said.
“Both the TKMS and Hanwha platforms met the very-high capabilities of the Royal Canadian Navy, and both of them put forward strong proposals to maximise benefits for Canadian workers and businesses.”
Canada will be entering negotiations to purchase HDW Class 212CD diesel-electric attack submarines — 74-metre long boats currently used by the German and Norwegian navies.
Using air-independent fuel cell-powered diesel engines charging lithium-ion battery banks, the submarines will allow up to 30 crew and officers to spend upwards of 41 days submerged.
The submarines are billed as among the stealthiest in the world, and the first four boats are expected to be delivered by 2034.