The flagship of South Korea’s submarine fleet is docked in British Columbia, where it’s serving as a floating floor model in the Asian nation’s pitch for Canada to buy 12 like it.
The crew of the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho, a KSS-III-class diesel-electric submarine, received an official welcome at CFB Esquimalt on Monday, having arrived on Saturday ahead of exercises with the Canadian and other navies.
Hanwha Ocean, which built the submarine, is one of two bidders for the multibillion-dollar contract to supply Canada’s new submarine fleet.
Glenn Copeland, managing director of Hanwha Defence Canada, says the timing of the submarine’s visit is perfect, with Canada expected to announce the winning bid by the end of next month.
Also seeking the contract is ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, in a bid that includes Germany and Norway, but Copeland says the KSS-III is the best conventional submarine on the market.
Copeland says his company feels very good about its chances because of its promises to deliver the first boat by 2032 and four by 2035, along with a larger package of local industrial development.
The Dosan Ahn Changho, named after a Korean independence leader, is in B.C. with the Daegu-class frigate ROKS Daejeon.
The vessels were welcomed by South Korean dignitaries, including Ambassador to Canada Lim Ki-mo, as well as the Chief of Naval Operations and the minister heading the agency responsible for promoting the nation’s defence industry.