Hanwha Ocean’s Industrial Partnerships Take on New Importance for Canada’s Defence and Economic Future
Press Release + Noah Note
March 24, 2026, CALGARY, AB—Canada is moving to build and sustain long-term industrial collaboration to drive economic growth through its existing and burgeoning defence capability. Reflecting this shift, Hanwha Ocean is working with Canadian companies across multiple regions to expand cooperation in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and defence technologies, contributing to a more resilient and integrated industrial base. As part of these ongoing efforts, the company announced five new Teaming Agreements to enable potential collaboration under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
The agreements were announced during Hanwha Ocean’s latest Partners’ Day in Calgary, which brought together industry leaders, government representatives, and international partners from across Canada. The gathering underscores the company’s continued efforts to build long-term relationships across the Canadian industrial landscape, contributing to sustained economic and defence capability development.
These partnerships bring together leading Canadian companies, each with proven expertise in critical naval and submarine capability areas, with Hanwha Ocean’s global experience in submarine design and production. Rather than building capability from the ground up, this approach builds on Canada’s existing industrial strengths, integrating them into a broader, longterm collaboration that supports advanced engineering, system integration, and high-value manufacturing across the country.
At a practical level, this collaboration strengthens Canada’s industrial base across multiple highvalue capability areas, from advanced navigation and mission systems to marine engineering, electrical integration, and platform sustainment. Companies such as OSI Maritime Systems, a Canadian leader in electronic navigation and tactical systems, will contribute electronic chart solutions to KSS-III submarines, supporting advanced, domestically anchored navigation capabilities.
Curtiss-Wright will supply towed array sonar winch systems for KSS-III, reinforcing sonar deployment capability and enhancing underwater detection performance. At the same time, EMCS Industries brings decades of innovation in corrosion protection and marine growth prevention, while Quebec-based Techsol Marine expands Canada’s role in advanced electrical systems integration and automation. Jastram Technologies further reinforces domestic capability through its established support network for Canadian shipbuilders and naval operators.
Taken together, these partnerships signal a broader shift in how complex defence capabilities are developed—through sustained industrial collaboration that brings together national strengths and global expertise. By establishing these relationships early and across regions, Hanwha Ocean is helping lay the groundwork for a long-term industrial presence in Canada. This positions Canadian companies not only to contribute to submarine capability under the CPSP, but to participate more actively in global naval supply chains and next-generation maritime innovation.
Quotes
“These partnerships reflect our long-term commitment to working alongside Canadian industry to deliver meaningful and lasting value. By partnering with leading Canadian companies across critical capability areas, we are not only strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base, but also supporting innovation, advanced manufacturing, and the development of a highly skilled workforce. We see this as part of a broader effort to contribute to Canada’s long-term economic growth and sovereign defence capability, aligned with the country’s national priorities.”
Glenn Copeland, CEO, Hanwha Defence Canada
“As a proudly Canadian company and leading global provider of integrated navigation and tactical systems, OSI Maritime Systems is pleased to be working with Hanwha Ocean in support of Canada’s evolving defence priorities. This collaboration reflects our commitment to the Canadian defence sector while leveraging our globally recognized expertise in submarine navigation and situational awareness. With our ECPINS software deployed fleetwide by the Royal Canadian Navy for over twenty years, OSI continues to deliver advanced, Canadian-developed capabilities that contribute to Canada’s broader defence industrial objectives.” Jim Girard, President and CEO, OSI Maritime Systems
“This agreement with Hanwha Ocean and K.C. Ltd. brings together expertise in corrosion protection and advanced biofouling management to support the next generation of submarine platforms. Our roots go back 70 years as the original inventors of electrolytic marine growth prevention systems, and we’re proud to deliver reliable, field-proven solutions to an international submarine program alongside respected global partners. EMCS is proud to represent Canada in this program, reinforcing our commitment to growing advanced manufacturing and technical capability here in British Columbia and advancing Canadian marine innovation.”
Trevor Tasker, Executive Chairman, EMCS Industries Ltd.
“Through our partnership with Hanwha Ocean, Jastram is honoured to support the delivery of specialized submarine lighting systems by connecting global manufacturing expertise with our established Canadian service and distribution network. With nearly 40 years of experience supporting shipbuilders and operators, including the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard, we bring a strong track record across complex Canadian marine projects. This work builds on that experience while contributing to Canada’s evolving submarine capability.”
Dave Marsden, General Manager, Jastram Technologies Ltd.
“We are proud to further our partnership with Hanwha Ocean through this Teaming Agreement. Leveraging our long-proven Canadian expertise in complex systems integration and advanced handling equipment, we are pleased to support next-generation submarine systems with international partners, expanding high-value engineering and manufacturing work in Mississauga while developing Canada’s broader defence industrial capacity. ”
David Micha, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Systems
“Alongside Hanwha Ocean and international partners, Techsol Marine is excited to bring Quebecbased expertise in high-performance systems integration to a global submarine program. Our team in Quebec City has 30 years of experience delivering power distribution, automation, and control systems for over 600 vessels, and is well positioned to support complex submarine platform requirements. This partnership strengthens specialized engineering and production capabilities in Quebec and deepens the province’s growing contribution to Canada’s shipbuilding industry. ”
François Lessard, President and Chief Executive Officer, Techsol Marine Inc.
About Hanwha Ocean
Hanwha Ocean is a leading global shipbuilder with more than four decades of experience delivering complex naval and commercial shipbuilding programs. Supported by its large-scale, integrated shipyard in Geoje, South Korea that spans 5 square kilometres and has more than 31,000 employees, the company combines proven industrial capacity with operational expertise to deliver modern, in-service naval platforms backed by a resilient through-life support model.
Since its establishment in 1973, Hanwha Ocean has delivered more than 1,400 vessels worldwide. The company has developed deep expertise in the design, construction, and inservice support of submarines and surface combatants for the Republic of Korea Navy, producing approximately 45 commercial and naval vessels annually.
About the KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (www.KSS-III.ca)
The KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (KSS-III CPS) represents the latest evolution of South Korea’s indigenously designed conventional submarine program. Developed through four decades of progressive design refinement and operational experience, the KSS-III builds upon a mature Military Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) foundation while incorporating next-generation technologies.
Equipped with lithium-ion batteries and an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the KSS-III provides over three weeks of submerged endurance and a cruising range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. It features advanced Korean-developed sonar systems and acoustic tiles, enhancing target detection and stealth performance. The platform delivers long-range strike capability, enhancing deterrence. As a multi-mission submarine, the KSS-III integrates Korea’s indigenous combat and weapon systems.
The KSS-III is not an export-only design; it is the same class of submarine actively operated by the Republic of Korea Navy under real-world conditions. This ensures Canada benefits from a proven platform supported by an established supply chain and validated operational and maintenance data across more than 30 years of in-service support (ISS).
Noah Note: Another round of partnerships. Hanwha already had an existing agreement with Curtis-Wright and has maintained a longstanding relationship with them since 2011 when it comes to the KSS-III. Obviously, locking down OSI as a partner is a major notch to Team Korea, given OSI is one of the Canadian Navies domestic heavyweights.
More partners, more team building. I expect we will hear a lot more in the next week or two. Both sides know cabinet is likely to make a decision in Early-Mid April on ehat Submarine Canada will select. That gives massive incentive for everyone to haul ass and try to lock down as many names as possible to pad their teams.
So I expext the next three weeks to be especially intense.
Go Hanwa
What is also important is how well it can perform during underwater operations. I will contact Glen via LinkedIn to discuss