South Korean companies are doubling down on their bid to equip the Royal Canadian Navy with the new KSS-III attack submarines, intended to replace the current Victoria-class submarines in a program designated as a priority by the Canadian government. According to reports, the proposal is backed by the South Korean government, which seeks to expand the base of global operators using military equipment and platforms developed and manufactured in the country.
Currently, the Royal Canadian Navy is undergoing a selection process and potential acquisition of 12 new conventionally powered attack submarines to replace the Victoria class. Several proposals have emerged as potential options, including South Korea’s KSS-III submarines, Japan’s Taigei class, and Spain’s S-80 Plus, along with France’s Scorpène by Naval Group and Germany’s U212/214 by TKMS.
Already in 2023, the KSS-III emerged as one of the strongest proposals following a visit by Canadian military officials to the shipyards of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Months later, the Canadian government issued a request for information to various naval industry players to assess the availability of currently produced submarines, emphasizing that the first of the new submarines should enter service by 2035.
It is worth noting that Canada’s requirement is shaped by the current geopolitical dispute and the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic, which is becoming more accessible due to melting ice and future navigable routes. On this matter, Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, stated in 2024: “As Canada’s Arctic becomes increasingly accessible, Canada needs reliable maritime capabilities to ensure the security of our country (…) The acquisition of new submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy will enhance our ability to monitor and detect threats along our coasts and protect Canadians.”
Now, several months into the process, an interview with South Korean company officials revealed that they have stepped up their efforts to be selected with their KSS-III. In that regard, Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries have submitted a detailed joint offer valued between US$20 billion and US$24 billion, proposing to deliver the first four submarines before 2035.
Also known as the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class, the KSS-III is a new class of diesel-electric attack submarines with a displacement of 3,000 tons. In the first phase of the three-stage KSS-III program, three units have been built to date: ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, ROKS Ahn Mu, and ROKS Shin Chae-ho.
The ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and ROKS Ahn Mu entered service in 2019 and 2023, respectively, while delivery of the Shin Chae-ho is scheduled for this year, although there are no major reports on its current status. As of today, they are the only vessels of their kind within South Korea’s submarine force equipped with the mentioned missile launch system. This gives them the capability to carry and launch up to six Hyunmoo-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
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