This week, Norway and Germany adopted a united front as they intensified their efforts to convince Canada to choose the Type 212CD as its next submarine.
As long-time NATO allies, these two European nations are emphasizing the security benefits for Arctic and North Atlantic regions when all three countries operate the same vessel.
“We are thinking of the submarine fleet not as a Norwegian fleet and a German fleet and a Canadian fleet, we were thinking of a common fleet,” Marte Gerhardsen, the state secretary to Norway’s minister of defence, told in an interview this week.
The Canadian navy is looking to acquire 12 conventionally powered submarines.
The government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to decide by the end of June on which proposal it will accept – either from Germany’s Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) or South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean.
If Canada chooses the Type 212CD, combined orders from all three countries would amount to 24 submarines – establishing it as the largest conventional submarine fleet globally.
![]()
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems CEO Oliver Burkhardt tour the company’s shipyard in Germany last year. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
Everything would be interchangeable, according to Gerhardsen – including spare parts, supplies, training, and even crews.
“We would both be cost-effective and very, very powerful,” said Gerharden, who pointed out that if Canada ever faced a threat in the Arctic, having support from two other navies using identical boats would provide a significant military edge.
“If Canada is in need, you’re not alone. You have two other countries with a large fleet that will come to rescue. So it’s kind of a really strong insurance.”
This week, Germany confirmed that TKMS has the ability to deliver four Type 212CDs by 2036 after previously hesitating on providing an exact timeline.
WATCH | Germany’s submarine bid pledges jobs, investment:
Germany’s submarine bid pledges $86B investment, jobs in Canada
Under pressure from South Korea’s offer, Germany has committed to delivering four completed vessels by 2036 along with infrastructure investments worth tens of billions of dollars for military purposes, has learned.
To achieve this goal quickly, both Norway and Germany had each agreed to forfeit one boat currently in production – something Gerhardsen stated the Norwegian navy could accept as long as future production compensates for it.
“We really want Canada as a partner in this project and we want to help Canada out,” Gerhardsen said.
“We know that Canada needs submarines fast. So we looked at the time schedule and figured out how we could fit Canada in so they don’t have to wait until we finish with our submarines.”
![]()
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, State Secretary in the Norwegian Defence Ministry Marte Gerhardsen and Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder attend a rollout of new Leopard 2A8 tank and new mobile howitzer last November in Munich. (Angelika Warmuth/Reuters)
The decision to give up production slots temporarily is notable according to Jordan Miller, an executive and defence analyst.</strong
Miller added that lacking delivery timelines was one weakness within the German-Norwegian pitch.
</strong “South Korea famously delivers on time and it delivers with aggressive timelines,” said Miller who noted that other allies ordering from South Korean defence contractors received their items promptly while staying within budget.
</strong WATCH | Korean submarine makes journey to B. C.:
<strong
Korean submarine on display in bid for Canadian contractA brand new Korean submarine named Dosan Awn-Chung-Ho arrived at CFB Esquimalt as part of its attempt for Canada’s military contract regarding 12 new submarines. The main competitor remains with German/Norwegian suppliers.
</strong “We’ve seen Poland order self-propelled artillery pieces that arrived on schedule. We know Hanwha’s proposal for submarines was also much quicker than what was competing against them.”
</strong “So yeah I think it’s fair to assume TKMS recognized this limitation compared with what South Korea was offering.”
</strong Miller concluded based on everything he observed this week that Germans alongside Norwegians are “very serious about winning this bid.”
</strong Hanwha Ocean together with South Korea has been impressive with their promotions featuring high-profile campaigns like showcasing their brand new KSS-III submarine visit Victoria just last weekend.
Source link
Germany’s submarine bid pledges $86B investment, jobs in Canada
Under pressure from South Korea’s offer, Germany has committed to delivering four completed vessels by 2036 along with infrastructure investments worth tens of billions of dollars for military purposes, has learned.
To achieve this goal quickly, both Norway and Germany had each agreed to forfeit one boat currently in production – something Gerhardsen stated the Norwegian navy could accept as long as future production compensates for it.
“We really want Canada as a partner in this project and we want to help Canada out,” Gerhardsen said.
“We know that Canada needs submarines fast. So we looked at the time schedule and figured out how we could fit Canada in so they don’t have to wait until we finish with our submarines.”
</strong “South Korea famously delivers on time and it delivers with aggressive timelines,” said Miller who noted that other allies ordering from South Korean defence contractors received their items promptly while staying within budget.
</strong WATCH | Korean submarine makes journey to B. C.:
<strong
Korean submarine on display in bid for Canadian contractA brand new Korean submarine named Dosan Awn-Chung-Ho arrived at CFB Esquimalt as part of its attempt for Canada’s military contract regarding 12 new submarines. The main competitor remains with German/Norwegian suppliers.</strong “We’ve seen Poland order self-propelled artillery pieces that arrived on schedule. We know Hanwha’s proposal for submarines was also much quicker than what was competing against them.”
</strong “So yeah I think it’s fair to assume TKMS recognized this limitation compared with what South Korea was offering.”
</strong Miller concluded based on everything he observed this week that Germans alongside Norwegians are “very serious about winning this bid.”
</strong Hanwha Ocean together with South Korea has been impressive with their promotions featuring high-profile campaigns like showcasing their brand new KSS-III submarine visit Victoria just last weekend.
Source link
