The CEO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the German company set to construct Canada’s new submarines, is advocating for increased collaboration among European shipbuilders, potentially impacting the Canadian navy’s consideration of adding corvettes to its fleet.
In a recent interview with CBC News, Oliver Burkhard emphasized TKMS’s partnership with the Spanish government-owned Navantia S.A., exploring joint naval projects and the potential production of TKMS submarine designs at Navantia’s Spanish shipyards.
Burkhard stressed the importance of shipbuilder collaboration in response to the rising demand for warship construction, as indicated by a recent report projecting over a five percent increase in demand over the next decade.
Apart from submarines, the Canadian navy is currently constructing River-Class destroyers and has expressed interest in acquiring smaller, cost-effective, ice-capable corvettes. The destroyers are under construction at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, while the submarines will be built in Germany due to Canada’s lack of modern submarine building expertise.
Burkhard’s discussions come ahead of his meetings in Ottawa this week with TKMS’s Canadian program partners. The Carney government recently selected TKMS as the preferred supplier for the submarines and aims to finalize the contract by the end of 2027.
While Burkhard did not foresee any work on Canadian boats being transferred to Navantia, he mentioned the possibility of exporting TKMS’s MEKO A-100 corvette design to be built in Canada, potentially enhancing Canada’s defense-industrial base.
The Canadian navy’s need for corvettes was identified last year, with plans for an options analysis on the role and capabilities of such warships. Defense expert Rob Huebert emphasized the military necessity of corvettes, praising Burkhard’s recognition of the urgent need for naval rearmament.
Huebert also highlighted the importance of enhanced cooperation among European shipyards in submarine construction, drawing parallels to the formation of Airbus in the aerospace industry during the 1960s. While acknowledging the complexity of creating a maritime equivalent of Airbus, Burkhard suggested that industry could spearhead such an initiative.
The need for closer partnerships among European defense companies was underscored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in a study three years ago, highlighting the importance of increased cooperation despite rising defense expenditures in European countries.
Overall, Burkhard’s advocacy for enhanced collaboration among European shipbuilders and the potential export of TKMS’s corvette design to Canada aligns with the evolving landscape of naval defense procurement.