Babcock Canada has signed a teaming agreement with Hanwha Ocean that will see the company become the exclusive in-service support partner for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (2021) and a Technical Cooperation Agreement (2022) previously signed between the two firms.
The CPSP is considered one of the largest conventional submarine procurements in modern history. Earlier this year, Hanwha Ocean was named one of two qualified suppliers by the Government of Canada for the programme, which could see up to 12 submarines enter service from 2032.
Under the teaming agreement, Babcock Canada will provide long-term sustainment support, drawing on its role as the country’s only submarine sustainment enterprise for the past 17 years. The company currently delivers programme management, engineering, maintenance and supply chain support for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Victoria-class submarines.
Tony March, CEO of Babcock Canada, said the agreement builds on a strong existing relationship: “This agreement further strengthens our partnership with Hanwha Ocean and enables the combination of both organisations’ extensive experience on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.”
Hanwha Ocean, headquartered in South Korea, is recognised as a global leader in submarine design and construction. The company has highlighted its ability to deliver the first KSS-III submarine within six years of a contract award, with subsequent deliveries at a rate of one per year. If awarded in 2026, the company says it could deliver four submarines by 2035.
Steve Jeong, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Naval Ship Global Business at Hanwha Ocean, said the collaboration with Babcock would provide the RCN with “the lowest risk and most reliable solution to ensure optimal availability of the submarine fleet.”
Babcock said combining Canadian in-service support expertise with Hanwha Ocean’s shipbuilding capability would provide a sovereign sustainment solution for the RCN’s future submarine fleet from build through to decommissioning.
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