The South Korean submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho docked at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria on Saturday, marking the longest voyage ever undertaken by a Korean submarine. The 14,000-kilometre journey is part of a campaign to win a multi-billion-dollar defence contract to supply Canada with up to 12 new submarines.
Strategic Visit for Defence Relations and Procurement
The KSS-III-class submarine is in Canada to conduct joint exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), but it also serves as a marketing opportunity for South Korean company Hanwha Ocean, which is competing against Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the contract. The Canadian government expects to announce the winning bid by this summer.
Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Defence Canada, stated that the arrival of the submarine highlights the strengthening military ties between South Korea and Canada. “It works well,” he said. “We are going to take advantage of the submarine being here.”
Royal Canadian Navy Emphasizes Urgent Need for New Submarines
The RCN is using the visit to underscore the necessity of a modern submarine fleet. Rear-Admiral David Patchell, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, noted that only one of Canada’s four aging Victoria-class submarines is currently operational. “I need them yesterday,” Patchell said when asked about the timeline for new submarines. He added that purchasing 12 new boats would signal that Canada is a “submarine nation” and demonstrate to allies that the country is taking defence seriously.
Two RCN members, Lt. Cmdr. Britany Bourgeois and Petty Officer Second Class Jake Dixon, participated in training activities aboard the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho during its voyage. Bourgeois described the submarine as spacious, clean, and modern, emphasizing that “Canada needs new submarines.”
Interoperability and Capabilities Demonstrated
South Korean officials highlighted that the journey proved the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho’s operational range, endurance, and self-sufficiency, meeting Canada’s requirements for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. On May 18, the ROK Navy announced that the submarine successfully established communications with the RCN Pacific Fleet under simulated wartime conditions, directly verifying interoperability between the two navies.
The visit reinforces the growing defence partnership between South Korea and Canada, with the submarine’s presence serving both strategic and commercial objectives.
