South Korean submarine to conduct exercises off B.C. amid procurement push

FILE: National Defence Minister David McGuinty, back left to right, South Korea Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Hahnwa Group Vice-Chariman Kim Dong Kwan speak amongst themselves after touring a submarine at the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in Geoje Island, South Korea, Thursday Oct. 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

A South Korean military submarine will join the Royal Canadian Navy for exercises off British Columbia this spring as the Asian country looks to secure a multibillion-dollar submarine procurement contract from Ottawa.

The submarine, ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, will be accompanied by Korean frigate ROKS Daejeon as the two warships visit Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt from May 23 to June 2.

The ships will participate in anti-submarine warfare exercises with Canadian vessels and maritime patrol aircraft.

A spokesperson for Canada’s Maritime Forces Pacific confirmed preliminary plans for the visit in a statement Thursday, saying the joint exercises will “demonstrate a strong and growing maritime partnership” between the two countries while “reinforcing shared commitments to regional stability and interoperability.”

The confirmation comes as South Korean firm Hanwha Oceans is in competition with German submarine manufacturer TKMS to build up to 12 new submarines for the Canadian navy.

• Canadian sub procurement urgent as current shortcomings ‘well known,’ says commander

The ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is part of the same KSS-III class of vessel that Hanwha is pitching to Ottawa to replace its aging fleet of Victoria-class boats.

Two Canadian submariners will board the Korean sub in Hawaii and sail with it for the remainder of its journey to B.C.’s capital region.

The sailor exchange is part of a program to “develop skilled and knowledgeable sailors by exposing them to different operational environments, tactics, and techniques,” MARPAC spokesperson Lt.-Cmdr. Linda Coleman said in a statement.

The federal government has said it expects to award the new submarine contract by 2028 at the latest, with delivery of the first sub no later than 2035.

• Canadian submarine returns to service after $715M in post-collision work