High-Stakes Competition: South Korea and Germany Vie for Canada’s Multi-Billion Dollar Submarine Contract

Ready Aye Ready – In the frigid depths of international defence procurement, a fierce rivalry has emerged between South Korea and Germany as they compete to supply Canada with a new fleet of submarines. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) aims to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s aging Victoria-class submarines, acquired in the 1990s, with up to 12 advanced diesel-electric vessels capable of long-range patrols in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. This multi-decade initiative, valued at up to 60 trillion South Korean won (approximately $44 billion USD), includes not just the initial procurement—estimated at $20-24 billion—but also 30 years of maintenance, repair, and operations. As of January 2026, with proposals due in March and a decision expected by May or June, both nations are pulling out all the stops, blending cutting-edge technology with promises of economic windfalls for Canada.