Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on July 6 in Halifax that Canada will purchase the Type 212CD submarine from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), calling it the largest military procurement in Canadian history. The deal makes Canada the world's largest operator of a submarine design that has not yet entered service.
Untested Design Raises Questions
The Type 212CD is an evolution of the older Type 212 submarine, built for the German and Italian navies from 1998 to 2017. However, the new model features a larger, advanced hull designed to defeat sonar, and no operational examples exist. Two units are currently under construction, with the first expected to launch in 2029. No country currently operates the Type 212CD.
Stephen Fuhr, secretary of state for defence procurement, expressed confidence in TKMS during a July 6 event in Victoria, BC. “This is an evolution; it’s not completely new,” Fuhr said. “We are dealing with one of the most skilled builders on the planet.” TKMS is considered the world's largest builder of non-nuclear submarines.
Cost and Delivery Timeline
No official cost was provided, but estimates place the final bill at $100 billion when long-term maintenance and infrastructure are included. Canada expects the first submarine by 2033 and hopes to receive three more by 2034. Germany and Norway are each ordering six of the subs, with Canada receiving up to 12 boats.
Carney emphasized the submarine's suitability for Arctic operations: “The TKMS platform is optimized for Arctic waters and fully NATO interoperable, allowing it to communicate seamlessly, share intelligence, and carry out joint missions.”
Competition and Urgency
Canada rejected a bid from South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, which offered the fully operational KSS-III submarine. On May 23, a South Korean KSS-III arrived in British Columbia to market the boat, but Canadian defence officials prioritized speed. “I need them yesterday,” Rear-Admiral David Patchell, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, said on May 23 regarding the navy's urgent need for new submarines.
Only one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s current fleet of Victoria-class boats is operational, highlighting the pressing requirement for replacements.
