South Korea Morocco submarine contract negotiations 2024
After losing a massive Canadian contract to Germany, South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is already looking at its next opportunities. Morocco appears in its sights with a possible program involving two submarines, but no official procedure has been announced yet.
South Korea is trying to bounce back after its setback in the Canadian CPSP program. The Canadian government selected German TKMS as the preferred bidder for the renewal of its fleet, a market that could reach twelve submarines.
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This decision represents another failure for South Korean shipbuilders, following the loss of the Polish Orka program. Hanwha Ocean remains designated as a reserve supplier in Canada. The company could resume negotiations only if discussions between Ottawa and TKMS do not succeed.
Canada now plans to negotiate the final contract with the German group over a period estimated between six and eighteen months. The presented timeline provides for the delivery of the first four vessels by 2034, five years earlier than initially envisioned.
According to analysis by Eugene Investment & Securities, Canada’s preference for TKMS would be explained notably by interoperability with NATO forces, economic benefits promised to Canada, local maintenance capabilities, and a particularly competitive German proposal in terms of timelines. The report specifies, however, that this is an interpretation based on statements from the Canadian government.
This setback is now pushing South Korean industrialists to concentrate their efforts on other programs. The report identifies several potential markets: four submarines in Greece, two in the Philippines, between two and six in Peru, five in Saudi Arabia, four in Egypt, and two in Morocco. Colombia and Chile are also mentioned.
Two submarines in the crosshairs
For Morocco, the document specifically mentions a project involving two vessels. Hanwha Ocean is among the shipbuilders likely to be interested, but no timeline is indicated.
At this stage, the report makes no mention of an order placed by Rabat, an officially launched call for tenders, or confirmed negotiations with the South Korean group. It also does not specify which submarine model could be proposed to the Royal Navy.
The mention of Morocco should therefore be understood as the identification of a future potential market by South Korean analysts. It does not confirm that Rabat has selected the KSS-III Batch-II, nor that South Korea has already submitted a firm offer for two units.
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The report confirms that Morocco is classified among the next international programs to follow, with an estimated need for two submarines.
