Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Minister of State for Defence Procurement, accompanied by 29 Canadian industry executives, visits Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard on Feb. 2, touring production facilities and boarding Jang Yeong-sil, the lead boat of the Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine proposed for Canada’s CPSP program. Fuhr, the senior official overseeing the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP)—a procurement initiative valued at roughly C$60 billion(US$43.8 billion)—toured the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in Geoje on Tuesday, inspecting assembly plants and boarding a submarine currently in sea trials. Accompanying him were around 30 executives and officials from Canadian defence and industrial firms.

Canadian shipyard representatives from Ontario Shipyard, Irving Shipbuilding, Davie Shipbuilding and Seaspan Shipyard were also present, underscoring the potential for broader collaboration between Canadian and Korean maritime industries.

“It was an extraordinary experience,” Fuhr said after boarding the submarine, praising the vessel’s internal technology and build quality. He also showed keen interest in Hanwha Ocean’s automated production processes and construction capabilities. The tour was guided by Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-chul and other senior Korean defence and government officials.

Industry leaders from both countries highlighted the visit as a valuable step toward strengthening industrial ties, with Canadian executives noting increased clarity on how local Canadian facilities and workforce could integrate with Korean technology and production practices.

Fuhr, who oversees the Canadian government’s defence procurement strategy and related reforms through the newly launched Defence Investment Agency, has been actively promoting strategic and industrial partnerships tied to CPSP. During the visit, Hanwha Ocean outlined detailed cooperation plans with Canadian firms and emphasized South Korea’s role as a critical partner in global security and supply chains.

Last month, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems signed memorandums of understanding with Canadian companies in steel, AI, and aerospace sectors, aligning with Canada’s “Buy Canadian” policy while anchoring deeper industrial cooperation.

Kim described this week’s inspection as both a validation and demonstration of Hanwha Ocean’s submarine proposal, reiterating the company’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions to the Royal Canadian Navy and fostering joint growth.

Domestic defence manufacturers are also stepping up their outreach. Representatives from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, LIG Nex1, and Korea Aerospace Industries’ defence division are in talks with Fuhr this week, offering proposals that include local torpedo production facilities and collaboration on naval armaments should Korea win the CPSP contract.

Fuhr is scheduled to visit the Republic of Korea Navy base in Jinhae later today to inspect the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class submarines before official meetings with senior Korean government representatives on Feb. 5. Industry stakeholders view the visit as a potential accelerant for stronger South Korea–Canada defence and industrial cooperation in the months ahead.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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