Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday named Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems the preferred supplier and launched exclusive talks to buy as many as 12 diesel‑electric submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy.
- Ottawa says negotiations with TKMS will take months and could last roughly six to 18 months with first deliveries targeted in the early‑to‑mid 2030s and TKMS offering to reallocate boats so the first four could arrive by 2034.
- Both the TKMS 212CD and South Korea’s KSS‑III met Canada’s technical requirements, but Ottawa prioritized interoperability with NATO partners and the industrial benefits offered by bidders in making its choice.
- Estimates for the procurement vary: the purchase price is reported around CAD $20–30 billion while lifecycle, sustainment and infrastructure costs could push the total into the tens of billions more over decades.
- The decision responds to an ageing Victoria‑class fleet that is often non‑operational, promises Canadian jobs and supply contracts, and leaves Hanwha as a fallback if talks with TKMS fail while raising risks over final price, schedule and long‑term sustainment.