OTTAWA- Here is the news report translated into English based on the provided text:
Canada Selects German Firm to Build New Submarine Fleet in Nation’s Largest-Ever Defence Procurement
HALIFAX: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the selection of German company TKMS to construct a state-of-the-art submarine fleet for the Royal Canadian Navy. Marking the largest military procurement project in Canadian history, the plan outlines the acquisition of 12 new submarines, with the first four deliveries expected to be handed over to Canada by 2034. To ensure this strict delivery timeline is met, TKMS will reallocate vessels from existing German and Norwegian orders.
The new fleet of 12 vessels is intended to replace Canada’s aging four British-made Victoria-class submarines. Purchased in 1998, that fleet has been continually plagued by technical and operational setbacks, leaving only one of the four submarines fully operational today. Prime Minister Carney noted that it was a tight race between South Korea’s Hanwha and Germany’s TKMS, as both firms submitted highly capable proposals. Ultimately, the German-Norwegian consortium was chosen due to its superior connectivity with NATO allies and optimized performance in Arctic waters.
The total cost over the project’s entire 30-to-50-year lifespan—covering both the procurement of the submarines and decades of maintenance—is estimated to exceed 100 billion Canadian dollars. The submarine order alone is valued at over 12 billion US dollars. A key condition of the contract mandates that TKMS must match 100 percent of Canada’s overseas investment value back into the domestic economy. Prime Minister Carney highlighted that this reciprocal spending will generate hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs across the country and spark tens of billions in investments within critical sectors such as space, autonomous technology, munitions, and research and development (R&D).
TKMS, the world’s largest manufacturer of non-nuclear submarines, currently supplies roughly 70 percent of the active NATO fleet. Military and political analysts suggest this new partnership will draw Canada significantly closer to the European Union and the western flank of the NATO alliance. The major announcement comes just ahead of the Prime Minister’s departure for the NATO leaders’ summit in Turkiye. Meanwhile, the opposition Conservative Party criticized the move, calling it a mere announcement of further negotiations when immediate action and fast deliveries are required. Canadian officials noted that contract negotiations are actively moving forward, though Canada retains the option to designate South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean as the preferred supplier should talks with TKMS fall through.
