The 3,000-tonne-class submarine departed Jinhae Naval Base on 25 March 2026 and is scheduled to arrive at CFB Esquimalt in Victoria, British Columbia, on 23 May. Its 14,000-kilometre trans-Pacific voyage included stops in Guam and Hawaii.
Hanwha Ocean said the voyage demonstrated the operational range, endurance and self-sufficiency required for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. The KSS-III submarine is being proposed for that programme.
Royal Canadian Navy Lieutenant Commander Brittany Brousseau and Petty Officer Jake Dickson joined the crew of Dosan Ahn Chang-ho during the voyage. Both Canadian officers took part in communications and training activities at sea.
On 18 May, the Republic of Korea Navy announced that the submarine had successfully exchanged communications with the Royal Canadian Navy Pacific Fleet. The exchange used the submarine’s onboard combined C4I system under simulated wartime conditions.
According to Hanwha Ocean, the operation directly verified interoperability between the two navies in an operational environment. It also showed that South Korea’s submarine communications network can communicate directly with key NATO allied nations, including Canada.
The company said the exercise demonstrated practical combined operational capability and highlighted South Korean submarine communications technology. It also underlined the potential for deeper Canada-South Korea maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic regions.
Hanwha Ocean said the activity marked a further step in the Canada-South Korea bilateral defence relationship. The exercise builds on the Canada-Republic of Korea Security and Defence Cooperation Partnership announced by Prime Minister Carney and President Lee in October 2025.
“This successful communications exchange will demonstrate the capability of our Navy to expand its operational reach into multinational combined operations, including with NATO allies like Canada,” said Captain Lee Byung-il, commanding officer of Dosan Ahn Chang-ho.
“Based on robust interoperability, we will continue to demonstrate the exceptional mission capabilities of Republic of Korea submarines,” Lee added.
Hanwha Ocean said its KSS-III is an in-service and in-production submarine that meets and exceeds the requirements of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. The company cited underwater surveillance capability, Arctic deployability, extended range and endurance as features relevant to Canada’s requirements.
Hanwha Ocean said it could deliver four KSS-III submarines to replace Canada’s current Victoria-class fleet before 2035 if placed under contract in 2026. The company said an additional eight submarines could then be delivered at a rate of one per year, allowing a 12-submarine fleet to be delivered to Canada by 2043.
