Who Might've Imagined??!!

"We had the same problems with the Americans."

"For our navy everything depended on the Americans but America kept raising the price."

"So we got upset [and] we developed on our own." 

"Once the contract is signed, we can deliver in six years."

(Retired) South Korean admiral Steve Jeong, vice-president, Hanwha Ocean

 K9 Thunder self-propelled gun manufactured by Hanwha Defense. Photo credits: Hanwha

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted positions detrimental to his allies' well-being, choosing to deep-six trusting, reliable relationships that have now failed to withstand the test of time, with Europe and his neighbours in North America. Cutting military supplies to Ukraine and threatening to annex Canada has not made him popular in the West. This sudden turn-about has shocked American allies world-wide into reconsidering their security options. 

 

For Canada, a new pathway may be opening, with South Korea applying to convince the Canadian Armed Forces on the  utility of looking at its military equipment; not only can it deliver defence systems expeditiously, but it can be relied upon to remain a trusted ally. A new effort has been seen in Europe looking to buy more military equipment from domestic or non-American sources in the hopes of reducing reliance on a country now headed by a bombastic, erratic president.

 

On March 5 and 6, a delegation of a dozen South Korean defence industry and government officials came to Ottawa with proposals that would have the effect of providing Canadian Forces with a variety of new equipment, including howitzers, training aircraft, rocket launchers and submarines. Promises of significant benefits for Canadian industry, along with a secure supply chain were most persuasive. 

 

Vice-President of Hanwha Ocean spoke of his company's KSS-111 submarine currently in service, that meets all of Canada's requirements, a submarine that  can operate underwater for over three weeks without surfacing. The ships have a range of over 7,000 nautical miles; capabilities invaluable for Arctic operations. Furthermore, with the offer came assurances that maintenance facilities would be established in Canada with the South Koreans prepared to provide Canada with total access to the onboard technology. 

 Self-propelled launcher K239 Chunmoo. Photo from open sources

South Korea has as clients some European nations, supplying them with military equipment related to ongoing problems encountered ordering from the U.S. The effectiveness of the South Korean systems and the speed with which they can be delivered were both large selling points. Poland is being supplied with over $10 billion of howitzers, light attack aircraft missile systems and tanks. Romania has ordered over $1 billion in howitzers. In both instances, arrangements include the setting up of production lines to promote local jobs in those countries.

 

The country's weapons are compatible with common NATO standards. Its own robust defence industry was developed by South Korea after experiencing rising prices and unreasonable demands with American-produced equipment. For Canada, the U.S. controls much of the technology on its equipment, with the U.S. having full control over software and hardware upgrades on Canada's $19-billion fleet order of F-35 fighter jets.

 

Defence industry officials had given warning the U.S. controls many of the key systems onboard Canada's new warships; potentially giving Americans the opportunity to hold Canada hostage over future upgrades or the provision of spare parts. The-then deputy minister at Department of National Defence along with the procurement department deputy minister dismissed concerns by department officials over dangers of U.S.-controlled technology and the paucity of Canadian content onboard the new fleet of Canadian Surface Combatants.

"This may need to include otherwise previously unthinkable actions such as shutting off our oil and gas, electrical power and critical supplies, as well as the abandonment of historic diplomatic and military relationships and commitments."

"[Canada should not sit back and let the U.S. destroy the country]."

(Retired) Vice-Admiral Mark Norman

Korea wants to become a major military equipment supplier to Canada, and hopes to sell KSS-III submarines to the Canadian Forces. Photo by ROK Navy