TKMS stealth launched it's own dedicated website for the Canadian Patrol Submarine project. Something that I have been asking for them to do for a very long time. You can find it yourself at Team212CD.ca for those who wanna save the address.
The newly launched website contains new information, statements, and FAQs related to the TKMS bid for CPSP. I must say, I am quite happy to finally get some good content from TKMS. While much of the info is stuff we already know, we do get some juicy content to go with it.
To start, we finally have a proper advertisement! More specifically, a very well-done, very decent video highlighting TKMS and the Type 212CD. It provides probably the best overall look I have seen of the sub as a whole. Videos and images of the 212CD are hard to come by—believe me—and to have a good two minutes of content dedicated to showing it off is nice.
We also got a new graphic (shown above) showcasing the bow of the 212CD, something that is especially rare in the already scarce media that exists. That includes some visual confirmation on the often-debated torpedo tube placement and numbers, which is strikingly similar to the existing 212A.
The video has also proven me a liar. Just a day after I reported on the TKMS/Davie rumors, the company has confirmed that their respective maintenance facilities on each coast would be located in Esquimalt and Halifax respectively, cutting out my rumor less than a day after I decided to finally report it! While no one was mentioned by name, you can take some guesses as to who they're referring to. I won't add them as partners until I hear the names.
We also get some confirmation on some of the promised benefits that TNSR previously reported. This includes promises from both TKMS and Kongsberg:
A Kongsberg-led CMS Centre of Excellence in Ottawa, building off the work they're already doing on ORCCA.
The training of Canadian personnel in Germany and on-site in Canada.
Creating a long-term skills transfer pipeline for engineers, technicians, and naval staff.
Making core elements of the underwater intellectual property available.
Sovereign Frameworks.
Helping Canada build the capability to upgrade and sustain its submarine fleet independently, with Canadian companies in the lead.
Most of these we have previously reported on here a few months ago. I am happy to see some of my concerns also addressed, specifically when it comes to skills transfer and training. This is one area that TKMS has to work very hard on thanks to the significant shift of metallurgy from the traditional High Yield Steel we're used to working with to the austenitic stainless steel the 212CD uses.
They also don't benefit from having a partner like Babcock with an existing network and the infrastructure to easily aid in the transition the KSS-III requires. So, I am very happy to see they recognize this concern, and hope they show off a developed plan before the RFP closes.
Most of these promises are, again, not new for us here. However, this is more official confirmation that it's on the promises list. Both TKMS and Kongsberg have been very open and willing when it comes to sharing IP. It also helps that both companies, either through themselves or through subsidiaries like KTA and Atlas Elektronik, control a lot of the core systems going into the Type 212CD.
Getting someone else like Hensoldt and Siemens involved would help significantly increase the potential level of intellectual transfer we see. Same with battery production, something Hanwha has thrown in collaboration with Samsung but TKMS has yet to fully promise. If I'm not mistaken, the actual battery cells of the 212CD come from Saft?
Anyways, either way, it's an advantage Team GERNOR has that they actually own a lot of their own IP between them. That makes it easier to have these kinds of transfers versus relying on bringing on a third party. Both having established operations, especially Kongsberg, also aids here.
Of course, the major angle still remains the history and established network. It is undoubtedly the most significant thing that TKMS can throw out. As we again talked about before, TKMS has the ability to leverage its dominant position and the possibility of Canadian involvement in their global network as a tangible economic benefit.
That's especially true if Canadian facilities and industry get an open opportunity to participate on the global stage. There is competition in that regard, such as Brazil being a far more advantageous destination for support to customers in South America, but it doesn't necessarily rule out Canadian industry doing more outside the 212CD program.
If you remember, Vice-Admiral Topshee brought up the desire to see more Canadian content in future batches of the Canadian Patrol Submarine, and eventually beyond ours into the wider market. It's certainly an area TKMS can better leverage with its global network. It presents the most opportunity at a glance, unless the Koreans are willing to adopt Canadian technology in their own subs.
Overall, it's a good website. I prefer separate pages myself, but that's a personal choice. I also will continue to ask TKMS to produce a proper sheet or page with numbers and confirmed systems on board the 212CD. There is still quite a bit we don't know about the internal subsystems of the 212CD, primarily the bow sonar. That remains the major one.
A proper fact sheet of capabilities, with proper numbers, would certainly help someone like me get out there and discuss the platform better. I never understood why TKMS is so secretive here on talking about the submarine itself, but hopefully, this shift is the start of getting more info proper.
Either way, I am happy with this site and welcome that we have more accessible resources from both suppliers now to get information and communicate. Communication is important, and this goes a long way. It also helps someone like me provide a good place to direct people who want resources. Just needs that fact sheet!
The first pic of the model shows a standard form rudder, while the pic in the end shows the X-form rudder. It's this difference for export? Which would Canada receive?
The 212CD isn't much larger than the current Victoria class, however based on the fact that it is a duel hull that adds to the tonnage only giving the illusion of it being larger at all. I fear the smaller inner hull that is the true living/operating/battery/engine/weapons carrying size of the Submarine may actually be smaller than that of the Victoria class. So how can this possibly compete with the range (more batteries) and weapons carrying capacity of the KSS-III ? Not to mention the added crew stress of operating for long periods in a smaller boat living and operating in smaller quarters and compartments. Not sure why this is still being entertained as a viable solution.