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South Korea respects Canada's submarine decision, cites 'strategic disadvantages'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Economy & Trade

South Korea respects Canada's submarine decision, cites 'strategic disadvantages'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) respects Canada's decision to select Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for its next-generation submarine project.
  • DAPA expressed regret that the bid did not succeed despite extensive preparation by the government and industry.
  • The agency views the competition as a demonstration of South Korea's advanced defense technology and a valuable lesson for future endeavors.

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated on Thursday that it respects Canada's decision to select Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the preferred negotiator for its next-generation submarine project (CPSP).

We respect the results.

— Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)Official statement regarding Canada's submarine selection.

While acknowledging the outcome, DAPA expressed significant disappointment that their bid did not result in the expected success, despite the considerable efforts invested by both the government and industry. The agency highlighted that South Korea, having previously acquired submarine technology from Germany, competed on equal footing with the original submarine developer in terms of performance, delivery, and overall technical capability. DAPA views this competition as a significant achievement, showcasing the remarkable growth of South Korea's defense industry.

It is very regrettable that the expected results were not achieved, given that the government and companies prepared and responded to the best of their abilities.

— Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)Expressing disappointment over the outcome of the bid.

DAPA further noted that the South Korean Navy's Dosan Ahn Changho submarine demonstrated its long-range navigation capabilities, operational endurance, and stability by crossing the Pacific Ocean to reach Canada. This feat, they believe, has successfully imprinted the capabilities of K-defense on the global defense market, extending beyond Canada.

The fact that the Republic of Korea, which previously introduced submarine technology from Germany, competed equally with the original submarine country in all aspects of technology, performance, and delivery, is a meaningful achievement that shows the leap in our defense technology.

— Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)Highlighting South Korea's technological advancement in submarine development.

Although South Korea could not overcome the "strategic disadvantages" in the competition, DAPA is committed to transforming this experience into valuable lessons for advancing towards becoming a top-tier global defense exporter. The agency emphasized its intention to rapidly pursue an "AI transformation" in defense to secure a technological edge and overcome such disadvantages in the future. Canada had announced its selection of TKMS on June 6th, local time, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney making the announcement at Halifax base.

Although we could not overcome the strategic disadvantages, we will not let the experience of this project remain a mere failure and setback, but will transform it into valuable lessons for leaping forward to become a top 4 defense power.

— Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)Stating the commitment to learn from the experience and improve future bids.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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