The chief executive officer of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the German company set to construct Canada’s new submarines, is advocating for increased collaboration among European shipbuilders. This initiative could have implications for Canada as the navy contemplates incorporating corvettes into its fleet. In a recent interview with CBC News, Oliver Burkhard highlighted TKMS’s partnership with the Spanish government-owned Navantia S.A., emphasizing their joint exploration of naval projects and potential production of TKMS submarine designs at Navantia’s shipyards in Spain. Burkhard stressed the importance of cooperation among shipbuilders in response to the rising demand for warship construction, with a projected increase of over five percent in the next decade according to a report by Imarc.
Apart from submarines, the Canadian navy is currently constructing the long-awaited River-Class destroyers and has expressed interest in smaller, cost-effective, ice-capable corvettes. The destroyers are being built by Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax under the National Shipbuilding Program, as Canada lacks modern submarine building expertise, necessitating the construction of the planned 12 submarines in Germany.
Burkhard, ahead of his visit to Ottawa this week, where he will meet with TKMS’s partner companies for Canada’s submarine program, noted the Carney government’s selection of TKMS as the preferred submarine supplier. The government aims to finalize a contract with the German shipbuilder by the end of 2027. Burkhard anticipates a swift conclusion to the agreement due to the government’s expedited process.
Regarding the potential export of TKMS’s MEKO A-100 corvette design, Burkhard mentioned the possibility of building the design in Canada with TKMS’s collaboration, serving as the material supplier. While this concept remains speculative, Burkhard indicated readiness to explore opportunities.
Last year, the Canadian navy identified the need for corvettes and has been assessing various options for the roles and capabilities of such warships. Rob Huebert, a defense expert from the University of Calgary, emphasized the importance of military necessity in defense procurement and expressed support for the acquisition of corvettes to bolster the navy’s fleet.
Huebert also highlighted the significance of enhanced cooperation among European shipyards in submarine construction, drawing parallels to the formation of Airbus in the 1960s to compete with U.S. defense contractors. Burkhard emphasized the potential benefits of a collaborative industry-led approach, suggesting that industry stakeholders could spearhead a similar initiative to Airbus. The necessity for closer partnerships among European defense companies was underscored in a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) three years ago, emphasizing the need for increased cooperation among European countries despite rising defense expenditures.