Canada’s Minister of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr tours a South Korean defense production facility during his visit to the country. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI
Feb. 4 (Asia Today) — Canada’s minister responsible for defense procurement toured major South Korean defense companies this week, praising their technology and production capabilities as Ottawa moves ahead with large-scale land and naval modernization plans.
Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s minister of state for defense procurement, visited facilities operated by HD Hyundai and Hanwha during a three-day trip to South Korea, industry officials said Tuesday.
Canada is preparing to procure new submarines valued at up to 60 trillion won ($44.9 billion) and self-propelled howitzers worth about 8 trillion won ($6.0 billion). Korean firms used the visit to highlight their submarine construction, artificial intelligence applications and plans for local production in Canada.
HD Hyundai said Fuhr and his delegation toured its research and development center in Pangyo, south of Seoul, where they reviewed models of destroyers, frigates and submarines built by its shipbuilding arm, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The delegation also examined progress on autonomous ship technologies incorporating AI.
Earlier, Fuhr visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard and boarded the Jang Young-sil, a next-generation Korean submarine proposed for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. The project, with bids due in early March, is expected to reach up to 60 trillion won and has attracted competition from Germany’s TKMS.
Industry officials said Fuhr’s tight schedule, traveling from South Gyeongsang Province to Gyeonggi Province, reflected Ottawa’s intent to closely assess Korea’s special-purpose shipbuilding capacity. Analysts say Korean firms have emerged as strong contenders in the final stage of the bidding.
“It is meaningful that Korea, with less than 50 years of submarine development experience, is competing head-to-head with Germany,” said Jang Won-jun, a professor of advanced defense technology at Jeonbuk National University. He added that Korean submarine construction has reached roughly 90% to 95% of Germany’s technical level, with an edge in price competitiveness.
Industry sources said Fuhr spoke favorably of the technology on display, describing the facilities as “feeling like the future has already arrived,” remarks viewed as an implicit endorsement of Korea’s capabilities.
Beyond submarines, Canada is also advancing its Indirect Fire Modernization program, which emphasizes land-based systems and involves investments of more than $6 billion to acquire new self-propelled howitzers and long-range rocket systems.
Fuhr visited Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant, where he toured production lines for the K9 self-propelled howitzer, K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and Cheonmu multiple rocket launcher, and observed live maneuver demonstrations. The company proposed an integrated firepower and mobility package and pledged to establish manufacturing operations in Canada to support local jobs and technology transfer.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said the company aims to become a key partner in Canada’s military modernization based on its track record in delivery and accumulated technological expertise.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260205010001719