Magellan has signed a Teaming Agreement (TA) with TKMS, the German firm bidding to supply Canada with up to 12 new Arctic-capable submarines.
Under the terms of the new TA Magellan Aerospace Corporation will seek to cooperate with TKMS on plans to produce heavyweight torpedoes and provide in-service support (ISS) for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
TKMS is one of two shortlisted finalists under consideration for the CPSP; under its timeline the first of the new submarines is expected to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) by 2035 at the latest.
The Canadian aerospace firm is already collaborating with TKMS on a separate torpedo weapon. Michael Ozegowski, Executive Vice-President of TKMS subsidiary Atlas Elektronik, commented: “TKMS and Magellan have built up a long-lasting relationship, as both parties have successfully been developing two sections of the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo that is expected to be introduced to the market in 2029.”
He added: “We are looking forward to strengthening our cooperation and collaboration with Magellan, a strategic supplier to Canada and to the defence industry in general.”
Magellan Aerospace’s Business Development VP Haydn Martin added: “With six decades of expertise delivering mission critical defence propulsion technologies across air, sea, and space — and proven
expertise in propulsion, engineering, and precision manufacturing — this partnership reflects a shared commitment to reliable, innovative undersea capabilities that support Canada’s national security objectives.”
In its bid to win the CPSP contract TKMS is offering its 212CD platform developed for the German and Norwegian navies; the shipbuilder is already building six submarines for each of these two nations.
The diesel-electric boats are 73m long, displace 2,800 tonnes fully submerged and feature an air independent propulsion (AIP) system using lithium batteries charged by two diesel engines. They are capable of speeds in excess of 20 knots and have an endurance of about 41 days.
Korean defence prime Hanwha Ocean is the other shortlisted bidder for the CPSP; it is offering its KSS-III design, which it claims offers the longest submerged endurance of any conventional submarine.
Hanwha Ocean has pledged to deliver four boats by 2035, contingent on a contract award being made this year.
As per Canada’s 2025 statement: “The RCN requires a new submarine fleet that will be deployable in the Arctic with extended range and endurance that will provide stealth, persistence and lethality as key capabilities.
“The future Canadian Patrol Submarine will employ a unique combination of these attributes to ensure that Canada can detect, track, deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries in all three of Canada’s oceans.”
Canada’s new boats will replace the RCN’s four ageing Victoria-class submarines, which were acquired from the Royal Navy towards the end of the 1990s. Three came into active service in the mid-2000s; the fourth in 2015.
- You can read more details on the TKMS/Magellan TA on the TKMS website