Seoul: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held a phone call with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, highlighting the commitment to expanding bilateral defense ties amid South Korea's efforts to secure Canada's submarine procurement project, the defense ministry stated.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the talks, Ahn expressed hope for strengthening solidarity between the two nations as key partners in various areas, including the submarine project, security and defense cooperation, and broader industrial collaboration. The ministers acknowledged that their joint exercise last month enhanced naval interoperability and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ahn commended the port visit of the 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine to Esquimalt in Victoria last month, marking the first trans-Pacific voyage by a South Korean submarine. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), an extensive procurement program involving up to 12 diesel-electric submarines, is estimated to cost up to 60 trillion won (US$39.7 billion), covering construction, maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
A consortium of Hanwha Ocean Co. and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. has been shortlisted for the project, competing with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Canada is anticipated to announce its preferred bidder later this month.