The Korean Navy invited a Canadian submariner aboard its 3,000-ton submarine during recent maritime drills. This move supports Korea's bid to secure a major submarine export deal with Canada. The exercise was part of a joint U.S.-Korea anti-submarine warfare drill near Guam.
The Korean Navy hosted a Canadian submariner on the ROKS Ahn Mu, a 3,000-ton submarine, during a six-day exercise that ended on Wednesday. This was part of the Silent Shark drills, a joint anti-submarine warfare exercise conducted by Korea and the United States near Guam. According to Navy officials, it was the first instance of a foreign submariner boarding one of Korea's domestically developed 3,000-ton submarines.
In prior multinational exercises, overseas submariners had trained alongside Korean personnel on smaller 1,200-ton and 1,800-ton submarines, but this marked a milestone for the larger model. The invitation aligns with Korea's pursuit of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, through which Ottawa aims to acquire up to 12 submarines to modernize the Royal Canadian Navy's fleet, with the first vessel expected no later than 2035.
Hanwha Ocean, a Korean defense firm, has been shortlisted as one of two qualified suppliers for the contract, alongside Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Korean and Canadian Navy officials posed for a group photo aboard the Ahn Mu on Thursday. This initiative underscores Korea's competitive edge in the global submarine export market.
