Regarding the selection of Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the preferred bidder for Canada's next submarine program (CPSP), valued at up to 60 trillion won, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said on the 7th it would "take this as a valuable lesson for leaping into the global top four in defense."
The agency issued a press release the same day, saying it "respects (the Canadian government's) decision," and added, "Although we were unable to overcome unfavorable strategic conditions, we will not leave this project's experience as mere failure and frustration but will turn it into a valuable lesson for leaping into the global top four in defense." It continued, "To overcome such unfavorable conditions, we will move swiftly to a defense artificial intelligence (AI) transformation to secure a technological edge."
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney on the 6th (local time) officially announced in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in eastern Canada that TKMS was selected as the preferred bidder for the CPSP. The CPSP is a program to acquire up to 12 new diesel submarines to replace four Victoria-class submarines scheduled to retire in the mid-2030s.
The agency said, "To win the CPSP, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries formed a one-team with the agency at the center, and the Ministry of National Defense, the Navy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concentrated their capabilities together," adding, "Given that the government and corporations prepared and responded to the utmost, we find it very regrettable that this did not lead to the outcome we had hoped for."
It then assessed that Korea's defense industry advanced through participation in the project. The agency emphasized, "The fact that the Republic of Korea, which once imported submarine technology from Germany, competed on equal terms with the original submarine-producing nation in all technical capabilities, including performance and delivery, is a meaningful achievement that shows the remarkable growth of our defense technology."
It added, "In this competition, the Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III) Submarine proved its long-distance sailing capability by crossing the Pacific to Canada, as well as its operational endurance and stability," noting, "This became an opportunity to imprint the capabilities of Korea's defense industry on the global defense market beyond Canada."