Overview
- German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius led a lobbying push in Ottawa with Norway’s defence chief and TKMS executives to promote the Type 212CD conventional submarine.
- Canada plans to buy up to 12 boats in a program reported around €16 billion, with recent coverage placing a down-select decision as late as mid-2026 and a contract potentially by 2028.
- TKMS signaled industrial offsets that could shift parts of construction to Canada and create local jobs, and Pistorius said Germany would procure a Canadian combat management system for its navy.
- Backers highlight the 212CD’s stealth, long range and Arctic suitability, plus a common design with Norway that promises interoperable training, maintenance and decades of lifecycle cooperation.
- South Korea’s KSS-III is portrayed as cheaper and available sooner, with offers of Canadian production, while Ottawa insists on boats entering service by the mid-2030s.