Canada, South Korea Complete Naval Exercise Off British Columbia Amid Submarine Competition

Canadian and South Korean naval forces have concluded a bilateral maritime exercise off Canada’s Pacific coast, bringing together warships, submarines, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft in a demonstration of expanding defence cooperation between the two Indo-Pacific partners.

Conducted from June 3–June 4 in waters off British Columbia, the exercise marked the culmination of a high-profile Republic of Korea Navy deployment that saw one of South Korea’s most advanced submarines operate alongside Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force assets.

The South Korean contingent consisted of the 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, the lead vessel of the KSS-III submarine class, the Daegu-class frigate ROKS Daejeon, and an embarked AW-159 Wildcat maritime helicopter.

Joining them were a range of Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force assets, including the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa, the Victoria-class submarine HMCS Corner Brook, CH-148 Cyclone helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, and a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft from 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron.

Together, the participating forces carried out a series of communications, coordination and tactical training activities spanning anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime surveillance operations. By integrating surface combatants, submarines, shipborne helicopters and long-range patrol aircraft into a common training environment, the exercise provided crews from both countries with an opportunity to refine procedures and strengthen their ability to conduct combined maritime operations.

According to the Republic of Korea Navy, the drills were designed to enhance interoperability and improve readiness for future multinational missions. The exercise also enabled both navies to validate communications procedures and operational coordination across multiple warfare domains.

The deployment began well before the ships reached Canadian waters. After departing South Korea, the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and Daejeon travelled approximately 14,000 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean via Guam and Hawaii before arriving at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in late May. The voyage marked the first trans-Pacific deployment by a South Korean-built submarine and demonstrated the endurance and operational reach of the KSS-III class.

In Hawaii, two Royal Canadian Navy submariners embarked aboard the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and participated in communications and command-and-control integration activities with Canadian systems. Those engagements provided an early opportunity to assess interoperability between the two navies before the task group’s arrival on Canada’s west coast.

Upon arrival in Esquimalt, Rear Admiral David Patchell, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, welcomed the South Korean sailors, underscoring the steadily deepening naval relationship between Canada and the Republic of Korea and their shared focus on Indo-Pacific security.

Exercise Unfolds Against CPSP Backdrop

The deployment also unfolded against the backdrop of Canada’s submarine replacement program. With the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project entering a critical stage, the presence of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho in Canadian waters offered a timely opportunity to demonstrate the operational maturity and capabilities of the KSS-III design.

READ: Hanwha Ocean’s Integrated Vision for Next-Generation Submarines

South Korea is one of the last two contenders for the program through Hanwha Ocean, which is offering a variant of the KSS-III for Canadian service. The CPSP is expected to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s aging Victoria-class submarines with a new generation of conventionally powered boats capable of operating across the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.

Within this context, the deployment provided Canadian naval personnel with a rare opportunity to observe an operational KSS-III submarine firsthand. Operating alongside HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Corner Brook, CH-148 Cyclone helicopters and a CP-140 Aurora aircraft, the submarine demonstrated capabilities relevant to Canada’s future requirements, including long-range deployment, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and integration with surface, subsurface and airborne forces.

For South Korea, the deployment reinforced a central element of its CPSP bid: the KSS-III is an operationally proven platform already in frontline naval service. Its trans-Pacific crossing, interoperability activities with Canadian forces and participation in bilateral exercises collectively underscored its maturity as a deployable, blue-water-capable submarine.

As Canada moves closer to key procurement decisions, the June 3–June 4 exercise highlighted both the expanding defence relationship between Ottawa and Seoul and the increasing visibility of South Korea’s bid to position the KSS-III as a contender for the Royal Canadian Navy’s next-generation submarine fleet.