I draw your attention to a great June 9, 2026 essay, written by Bruce Allen Lubbering, for RealClear Defense, at:
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/06/09/navigating_the_deep_an_analysis_of_the_canadian_patrol_submarine_project_cpsp_1187505.html
Please direct any comments there.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteThe author of this analysis makes a number of assumptions, the most glaring of which is that the TKMS 212CD will not have VLS, when the product spec sheet simply says "Fitted for Missiles".
There has been speculation that TKMS has added VLS systems to INS Drakon, the last Dolphin class submarine (Or it could be for drone/specwar use). Anyway, a VLS system could be in the Canadian bid.
https://www.hisutton.com/Israel-INS-Drakon-Submarine-OSINT.html
Hi Shawn at 6/10/2026 11:50 PM
ReplyDeleteYou're right you know.
And I'd add (more than a year before H I Sutton's Aug 2023 https://www.hisutton.com/Israel-INS-Drakon-Submarine-OSINT.html report)
SubMatt's TKMS contact reported in February 2022:
- after INS Drakon (last of three Dolphin 2s) is fitted with VLS or a flexible use VMPL for its nuclear tipped SLBMs or hypersonic SLCMs
- then the three x Israeli Dakar-class (which I call Dolphin 3s) will have the same or similar fitout to INS Drakon
See https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/02/israels-dolphin-3-dakars-to-have-type.html and https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/02/diamond-hull-patent-dolpin-3-type-212cd.html
So TKMS or at least its Israeli contacts have the capability VLS or VMPLs to Type 212CD generation subs.
Cheers Pete
No, Hanwha is not proposing a scaled-down 2800 ton variant of the KS-III Batch 2 submarine. South Korea is offering the same variant to Canada as they are fielding. And there are no indications that TKMS is adding a VLS to its U212CD offer.
ReplyDelete