Hanwha’s KSS-III would open up new opportunities both from a security perspective as well as an economic one. (Hanwha photo)
By Tim Ryan
As Canada contemplates which submarine to purchase, the selection of a Korean boat would open up new opportunities both from a security perspective as well as an economic one.
Canada has been pushing forward on its recently released Indo-Pacific strategy after the document identified that the region “will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.”
Security and industrial alliances with the key nations in the region are imperative. Canada recently moved forward with a new defence alliance with Australia.
Putting in place new economic and security links with South Korea – through the purchase of a proven and technologically advanced submarine from that nation – could further seal Canada’s role as a serious player in the Indo-Pacific region.
That is what makes Hanwha’s KSS-III a leading contender in the competition.
Following selection by the Canadian government as a qualified supplier for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) in August 2025, Hanwha says it has continued its ongoing efforts to identify Canadian companies that can become partners and suppliers on CPSP and other programs. As part of that effort, Hanwha Ocean attended DEFSEC in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 1 and 2.
This year at DEFSEC, Hanwha says it met with more than 35 companies and organizations, including Arcfield, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canevas Design, Chantier Naval Forillon, Dafocom Solutions, Exfo, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Genoa Design, GeoSpectrum Technologies, Hexsor, Imagine 4D, InnovMarine, InvestQuebec, Irving Shipbuilding, Lockheed Martin Canada, Marmen, Marecomms, Novolecs, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Rennaissance, SC Techno, Syntronic, Telenova, Trident Maritime Systems, Ultra Maritime and the University of New Brunswick.
Hanwha officials say they are committed to establishing a robust and long-term presence in Canada and partnership with the Canadian government and Canadian industry in a variety the areas. The emphasis is on creating jobs and economic growth, accelerating Canada’s defence capabilities, and enhance cooperation, partnership and supply chains between Canada and South Korea, they point out.
Hanwha representatives also noted that relationship is becoming more and more important, and one that supports the objectives of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Since 2023, Hanwha has met with hundreds of Canadian companies and signed Teaming Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with more than a dozen, including Babcock Canada, BlackBerry, CAE, Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies, Des Nedhe Group, Gastops, J Squared Technologies, L3 Harris and Modest Tree.
In addition, Hanwha has entered into contracts with multiple Canadian firms. ModestTree, in Nova Scotia, was awarded a project to create a digital mock-up of the KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (CPS). Hepburn Engineering, in Ontario, was awarded a multi-million dollar contract for its Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) system that will be installed on the Republic of Korea Navy’s AOE-II (Auxiliary Oiler and Explosives) vessels. Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies, in Ontario, has supplied its Towed Array Handling System for the KSS-III.
Hanwha is pointing out that the KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine is proven, in-service, in active production, and meets all the operational and urgent delivery requirements for CPSP. That includes superior underwater surveillance capability and deployability in the Arctic with extended range and endurance that will provide stealth, persistence and lethality to ensure that Canada can detect, track, deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries in all three of its oceans.
Hanwha can deliver four KSS-III CPS to fully replace Canada’s current Victoria Class fleet before 2035 if on contract in 2026. Earlier retirement of the Victoria Class fleet will result in estimated savings of approximately $1 Billion on maintenance and support costs. The additional eight submarines will be delivered at a rate of one per year, meaning the entire fleet of 12 submarines can be delivered to Canada by 2043. No other option can come anywhere close to this delivery schedule, Hanwha officials point out.
And what about the KSS-III?
The KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (KSS-III CPS) is South Korea’s latest evolution in conventional submarine technology. Equipped with Lithium-ion batteries and an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the KSS-III would offer the longest submerged endurance among conventional submarines in service, the company noted. The platform is fully optimized for Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Minelaying, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) support.
Hanwha says the KSS-III is not an export-only model—it is the same class of submarine actively operated by the Republic of Korea Navy in real-world conditions. This ensures Canada will benefit from a proven platform, backed by an established supply chain and validated operational and maintenance data throughout the 30 plus years of in-service support. The KSS-III is the backbone of the Republic of Korea Navy’s submarine force. Acquisition of the KSS-III would allow Canada to be a member of the international KSS-III User Group which consists of a growing number of nations.
Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, spans five square kilometres and is one of the largest and most advanced shipbuilding facilities in the world. It is at this shipyard that the company builds the KSS-III submarine.
Retired South Korean Admiral Steve Jeong, vice-president of Hanwha Ocean, said the company’s KSS-III submarine now in service meets all of Canada’s requirements. “Once the contract is signed, we can deliver in six years,” he told the Ottawa Citizen in a recent interview.
The South Korean submarines, three of which are already built, can operate underwater for more than three weeks, without having to surface, he added. In addition, the boats have a range of more than 7,000 nautical miles, Jeong said. Those capabilities would make them valuable for Arctic operations.
Maintenance facilities would be established in Canada, and unlike with U.S. weapon systems, the South Koreans would provide Canada with total access to the onboard technology. The KSS-III CPS can accommodate a wide range of weapons – heavy-weight torpedoes, mobile mines, cruise and ballistic missiles – with its torpedo tubes and Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. Fuel cell AIP and lithium-ion batteries allow the KSS-III CPS to remain submerged for over 3 weeks and travel more than 7,000 nm.
The KSS-III is designed to provide excellent habitability, supporting both physical and mental health, according to the company. It offers individual berths—each equipped with personal entertainment systems and HVAC controls—for up to approximately 50 crew members. Officers and petty officers are provided with larger bunks for enhanced comfort. For mission-specific operations, portable bunk cots can be installed for embarked special forces personnel, offering added flexibility without compromising crew comfort.
Advanced automation and remote monitoring enable the KSS-III to operate with approximately 30 crew members, maintaining full mission capability with a lean, efficient crew. That would prove to be an advantage in the Royal Canadian Navy, which has already found itself under the gun to recruit more personnel.
The hull of the KSS-III CPS is coated with acoustic tiles that reduce detectability by enemy sonar and suppress underwater radiated noise from onboard machinery—significantly enhancing acoustic covertness.
Additionally, the hydrodynamically optimized hull design minimizes flow noise and prevents propeller cavitation, even at full speed, ensuring quiet operation across all mission profiles. Hanwha says the KSS-III CPS is fully compliant with the Cryptographic Modernization Program, enabling secure communications with allied navies. This ensures the submarine can safely exchange classified information and operate seamlessly alongside allied forces during joint missions.
The KSS-III CPS is equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art SONAR systems, including a horseshoe sonar on the bow, flank arrays, and a towed array sonar. These advanced sensors provide comprehensive coverage across all frequency bands.
The submarine is also equipped with a Vertical Launch System (VLS), capable of operating submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with heavy warheads.
The KSS-III CPS is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery system with significantly higher energy density than lead-acid batteries. This next-generation system allows the submarine to remain submerged for longer durations and sustain maximum underwater speed up to three times longer than submarines with lead acid batteries. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries offer extended life cycles and simplified maintenance, reducing both operational and sustainment costs.
The Republic of Korea currently operates three KSS-III Batch-1 submarines in active service. Three more submarines are now under construction.
