Participating in CANSEC Defense Exhibition...
Signing MOUs with BlackBerry and L3
KSS-III Submarine Moves Forward in 60 Trillion Won Submarine Project
Hanwha Ocean has taken another step closer to the Canadian submarine project. Hanwha Ocean is currently participating in CANSEC, Canada's defense exhibition, where it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with foreign companies on site, agreeing to cooperate on the Canadian submarine project.
At CANSEC, Canada's largest defense exhibition, Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense (first from the right), and Rich Foster, Vice President of L3 Harris Canada (second from the right), along with other company officials, are taking a commemorative photo after signing an MOU. Hanwha Ocean
On May 30, Hanwha Ocean announced that it is participating in the CANSEC exhibition under the slogan "Solutions for Canada's Future: From Land to Underwater and Beyond." At the exhibition, Hanwha Ocean signed MOUs with BlackBerry and L3 Harris MAPPS. Hanwha Ocean will cooperate with BlackBerry in the field of cybersecurity, and with L3 Harris MAPPS in simulation and platform automation. Both companies are recognized as leading firms in Canada's security and maritime defense industries.
Canada is planning to acquire submarines, with the project estimated to be worth up to 60 trillion won. Hanwha Ocean recently submitted an unsolicited proposal (a document outlining submarine specifications and delivery timelines) to the Canadian government. Although the specific project schedule has not been finalized, it is expected to begin around next year.
At this exhibition, Hanwha Ocean is showcasing the "Jangbogo-III Batch-II (KSS-III)" submarine, which it has proposed for Canada's Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The KSS-III is a weapon system whose performance has been verified through operational deployment (Batch-I) by the Republic of Korea Navy. Batch-II is equipped with both Hanwha Aerospace's lithium-ion battery (ESS) and an air-independent propulsion system (AIP), giving it a cruising range of over 7,000 nautical miles and the ability to remain submerged for more than three weeks. Hanwha Ocean also plans to establish a local operation and maintenance (ISS) center in Canada to support over 30 years of continuous maintenance and performance upgrades.
Canada is also showing interest. In November last year, Angus Topshee, Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy, visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard to discuss the Canadian submarine acquisition project. Chief Topshee personally toured the actual construction site of the 3,600-ton Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine proposed by Hanwha Ocean for the CPSP.
Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, stated, "Through the signing of this MOU, Hanwha Ocean will establish full-scale cooperative relationships with these partners, which will greatly contribute to further solidifying and strengthening the relationship between Korea and Canada."
Meanwhile, Hanwha Ocean previously signed MOUs with PGZ SW and Nauta Shipyard, both shipyards under Poland's state-run defense group PGZ, to strengthen its business in Poland. It is being evaluated as having gained an advantage in the 8 trillion won "Orka" project, Poland's submarine program.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
