Through Canada's defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is providing members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to keep Canadians safe and maintain current and future operational readiness. Canada has the longest coastline in the world, and it is essential that the Royal Canadian Navy be equipped with superior underwater surveillance capability to protect our country's security and Arctic sovereignty.
The Royal Canadian Navy requires a new submarine fleet that will be deployable in the Arctic with extended range and endurance that will provide stealth, persistence and lethality as key capabilities. The future Canadian Patrol Submarine will employ a unique combination of these attributes to ensure that Canada can detect, track, deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries in all 3 of Canada's oceans. It will enable the Government of Canada to contribute to international security through deployments alongside allies and partners, while creating opportunities to strengthen Canada's defence and marine sectors.
Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, and the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), announced that the Government of Canada has identified German company Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Korean company Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. (Hanwha) as the 2 qualified suppliers for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
This decision was informed by a thorough assessment of Canada's requirements for the CPSP, including construction and delivery timelines for the new submarine fleet. Canada also engaged with other governments and militaries to exchange lessons learned and to gain insights into their respective submarine acquisitions, infrastructure and sustainment programs.
As the current global environment continues to evolve, the CPSP is an opportunity to diversify Canada's defence partnerships and collaborate with allies and partners, while creating long-term opportunities for Canada's marine and defence industries. The identification of qualified suppliers is a critical milestone for the CPSP. It is a positive signal that the Government of Canada is taking the necessary steps to provide members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need, and that it is prepared to move quickly and decisively to ensure delivery of the first Canadian Patrol Submarine no later than 2035.
As part of the next steps, Canada will conduct in-depth engagements with the 2 qualified suppliers to continue to advance the procurement process.
The Government of Canada remains committed to engaging Canadian industry and creating high-paying jobs at home through the CPSP. As such, Canada intends to leverage work on the submarines to generate economic benefits for Canada's marine and defence industry throughout the fleet's operational life.
