Canada chose the 212CD submarines. TKMS before the contract of the decade

Canada indicated German TKMS and Type 212CD submarines in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project program. The stake is 12 new units for the Royal Canadian Navy, capable of action in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic.

Canada chooses 212CD. The contract race is entering a decisive phase

Ottawa's decision closes One of the most important stages of the Canadian submarine program. According to Reuters, TKMS' offer defeated South Korean KSS-III Batch II proposed by Hanwha Ocean. It is an important settlement not only for the Royal Canadian Navy, but also for the European shipbuilding industry.

Type 212CD is a joint German-Norwegian project and one of the structures considered previously in the Polish Orka programme. The choice of Canada therefore strengthens TKMS' position in NATO and shows that the German-Norwegian construction can become one of the major submarines chosen by your alliance.

However, this does not mean a signed contract. Negotiations on price, configuration, schedule, training, service facilities and the participation of Canadian industry will now begin.

The Arctic was a key requirement

The Canadians made very high demands from the beginning. New ships are expected to replace Victoria-type operated units and operate not only close to their own coasts, but also far from the bases, under difficult northern conditions.

The most important filter was the Arctic. Canada needs ships hidden, large-scale and autonomous, capable of maintaining presence in the designated area and of detecting, tracking and combating threats in three maritime directions: Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic.

That is why there were two completely different proposals in the final. TKMS offered a type 212CD vessel, developed jointly with Norway and Germany. Hanwha Ocean proposed a larger KSS-III Batch II, with a strong industrial package and greater weapons potential.

Ottawa chose a German-Norwegian solution. It is a technical decision, but also a political-industrial decision. Canada binds its programme to NATO's European facilities and an already developed alliance project.

What is known about 212CD

Type 212CD, or Common Design, is created under the German and Norwegian programmes. It is a development of type 212A, but not a simple enlargement of the earlier structure. The new design changed the hull architecture, the solutions limiting the ship's signature, and On-board systems.

The most recognizable characteristic of 212CD is the characteristic "diamond" section of the hull. It is intended to limit the effectiveness of active enemy hydrolocation stations. The project also provides for a strong austenitic steel hull, which is important to reduce magnetic fields and hinder ship detection.

The ship will have conventional drive supported by the AIP system, allowing it to remain underwater longer without the need for atmospheric air. In the case of a non-nuclear submarine, this is essential for the secrecy of the operation.

But be careful. The choice of Type 212CD does not yet mean that the Royal Canadian Navy will receive the same configuration of sensors, weapons and electronic combat systems as Germany and Norway. These details will only be recorded in the final contract.

The most important thing will be a place in line

Today the key question is not only what Canada has chosen, but when it actually gets its first ships. TKMS already has a 212CD programme for Germany and Norway, and an extended series for both fleets will be a serious burden for the German shipbuilding industry.

Canada may enter an advanced alliance program, but the success will be decided by the timetable, production capacity, crew training and ship maintenance system for decades to come. In submarine programs, the choice of design is only the beginning.

According to previous declarations TKMS was intended to indicate the possibility of handing over to Canada four Type 212CD ships by 2036. For Ottawa, it's a matter of principle, because the Royal Canadian Navy must avoid any gaps after the Victoria-type ships are withdrawn.

TKMS selection is only the beginning

The TKMS indication is a major success of the German shipbuilding industry. For Canada, it means entering the European construction programme submarines and to try to rebuild capabilities that have remained limited for years.

The hard part is before Ottawa. We need to reach a contract, establish ship configuration, secure funding, prepare crews and build a maintenance system. Only then will it be possible to talk not only about the choice of supplier, but about the real start of rebuilding Canadian submarine forces.

Canada has selected 212CD, but now has to ensure that declarations translate into construction, deadlines and entry of new ships into service in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Mariusz Dasiewicz – publisher of the Shipyard Portal. For more than 10 years he has been engaged in the field of the Polish Navy and shipbuilding industry. In its texts it focuses on Ork's programme and issues related to the development of maritime security of Poland, emphasising transparency of decision-making processes and fact-based analysis.