There could be a “mutual interest” in Canada to build his submarines, explains the German secretary in armaments

There is nothing to prevent Canada from building half – perhaps more – from the dozen submarines it intends to buy for the navy, Navy News told CBC News.

Jens Plötner says that the decision would depend on the Canadian government, but the idea is in the field of industrial possibility – and given the state of geopolitics, this could have a strategic meaning.

“”You are looking to acquire 12 submarines. This is a huge number, “said Plötner in an exclusive interview with CBC News this week.

“This is such a large program, it will extend over many years. And although there is probably a mutual interest in building the first in one of the existing production sites in Germany, I think it would only be natural if the Canadian government asks TKMS to build in parallel here.”

Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is one of the two shipyards in the running to build the new underwater fleet of Canada. The Germans and the Norwegians have joined forces to launch Canada on the purchase of the 212CD type submarine.

The other competitor is the Hanwha Ocean in South Korea.

During Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany in late August, Oliver Burkhard, CEO of the company, launched the concept of Canada to build some of the boats.

Plötner’s remarks develop on this subject, saying that TKMS has a history of building production facilities in other countries, and noted that this is how South Korea has embarked on the submarine sector.

Look | Canada to choose between 2 naval manufacturers:

Canada narrows the choice for new submarines with German and South Korean tenderers

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that the field of suitors to Canada’s new submarines came across two bidders, the German TKMS and the Hanwha Ocean in South Korea.

Canada has never built submarines and the country’s existing shipyards do not have the technical know-how to do so for the moment.

We expect that, whatever the success, an underwater maintenance installation should be built in Canada to keep such a large fleet in service.

“Resilience in times of crisis”

“I think that having not only a maintenance and training site here in Canada, but in fact a production site, would be an important contribution to our global resilience in times of crisis or, to God, preserves us, the war,” said Plötner.

“If you have two places where you can maintain, repair and build submarines, it’s much better than having one.”

Canadian and German officials have not officially discussed the concept of a Canadian production installation. But, said Plötner, all they have to do is ask.

“I think the question has been raised, but not yet in a so concrete way. I think we are not yet in this phase,” said Plötner. “But as I said, if our Canadian friends choose to raise it, I think they will find ears and minds open to Kiel.”

The establishment of a Canadian submarine manufacturing plant would benefit TKMS because the company is faced with a production capacity problem. TKMS, which manufactures frigates and a mine hunting technology in addition to submarines, has tripled its order book in five years.

From a practical point of view, such a program would force TKMS to acquire a Canadian shipyard – or to form a kind of partnership with an existing installation.

The company recently acquired the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, in order to expand production.

In addition to helping the South Koreans to embark on the submarine sector over 20 years ago, TKMS acquired the Oceana shipyard in Brazil in 2020 to build locally for the Tamandaré class program of the Brazilian Navy.

The Canada Submarines Replacement Program will be managed from the new Defense Investment Agency (DIA).

The secretary of the firm in charge, Stephen Fuhr, tried a few weeks ago to say that Ottawa will promote the underwater land that creates the most Canadian jobs when he decides to grant a contract.

During the agency’s unveiling this week, he reiterated his position.

“If you are going to spend billions of dollars in submarines with another country, this is a relationship that you have been going to have for a long time,” said Fuhr.

“Can we work this relationship by other ways that benefit in economically Canada and to the partner with which we work?”