Hanwha, LIG, Magellan Join Forces to Work on CPSP – From Weapons to Sustainment

A key piece of Canada’s future submarine capability is beginning to take shape through the establishment of in-country capacity for critical systems, reinforcing long-term operational readiness and industrial resilience.

LIG Defense & Aerospace (D&A), Magellan Aerospace Corporation (Magellan), and Hanwha Ocean have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to seek collaboration under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), with a focus on strengthening Canada-based capabilities across underwater weapon systems and their lifecycle support.

At the center of the partnership is the integration of LIG D&A’s advanced weapon capabilities with Magellan Aerospace’s precision manufacturing expertise in Canada. LIG D&A has played a central role in advancing South Korea’s indigenous undersea defence capabilities, beginning with the successful development and deployment of the country’s first domestically produced Heavy Weight Torpedo, Baeksang-eo. Building on this foundation, LIG has continued to innovate, developing next-generation systems such as the Tiger Shark Heavy Weight Torpedo, featuring fiber-optic guided control and advanced wake-homing capabilities, which has been fully integrated into the latest KSS-III submarines. In addition to Torpedoes, LIG produces a range of advanced naval weapon systems, including Mobile Mines and Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles (SLCM), Torpedo Counter Measure supplying critical capabilities to the Republic of Korea Navy. The collaboration is aimed at enabling in-country capacity for the assembly and production of key submarine weapon systems.

“LIG brings a level of proven capability in underwater weapon systems that is not widely available in the global market,” said Haydn Martin, Vice President, Business Development, Marketing and Contracts at Magellan. “Partnering on that foundation creates a real opportunity to establish advanced manufacturing and sustainment capacity in Canada – moving critical capabilities closer to home and strengthening long-term operational readiness.”

Building on this foundation, LIG D&A and Magellan are exploring a phased approach to industrial cooperation in Canada, including the assembly and production of munitions and unmanned systems, followed by the expansion of local sourcing and component manufacturing to support in-country maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) requirements. Over time, this cooperation is expected to extend to the export of assembled systems to third markets. In parallel, the parties are reviewing collaboration on propulsion systems for 70mm guided rockets, with potential expansion into broader solid rocket motor (SRM) applications—including 130mm and 140mm systems—as part of a longer-term effort to diversify and strengthen Canada’s defence supply chain.

This approach reflects a shift from externally dependent acquisition toward a more localized model of capability – one that brings together production, system integration, and in-service support within Canada. By anchoring these functions domestically, the partnership is expected to enhance supply chain resilience while supporting the sustained operation of Canada’s future submarine fleet.

READ: Irving Shipbuilding and Hanwha Ocean Outline Vision for Naval Modernization

The collaboration also builds on earlier agreements between Hanwha Ocean and LIG D&A across underwater systems and sonar-related capabilities, forming a broader, integrated approach to undersea warfare systems development in Canada. This includes ongoing discussions and cooperation on the potential localization of Torpedo Counter Measure systems and related technologies in collaboration with global partners, reflecting an early move toward in-country production and sustainment.

With Magellan Aerospace’s established presence in advanced manufacturing and defence production, the partnership provides a pathway to expand beyond final assembly toward component-level manufacturing over time – supporting greater participation of Canadian industry and reinforcing the long-term sustainment base required for complex naval systems.

The agreement highlights how international collaboration is increasingly being structured around building enduring capability in Canada – particularly in areas that have traditionally remained outside domestic control, such as weapon systems and their lifecycle support.