HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean are competing to win submarine orders from three countries: Poland, Canada, and the Philippines. The two companies recently showcased their export submarines in Poland, emphasizing their technological prowess and excellence.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a Promotion Day in Warsaw, Poland, on Oct. 8 (local time), under the theme of “A New Era of Korea-Poland Cooperation for the Polish Navy and Shipbuilding Industry.” This event underscored the company’s commitment to strengthening ties with Poland and showcased their advanced submarine technology.

The competition is fierce among defense contractors in Germany, France, Sweden, Spain and Korea for Poland’s ORKA project, which aims to introduce three new submarines for the Polish Navy and is estimated to be worth 3 trillion won. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has positioned itself uniquely in this race by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gdansk-based shipyard Remontowa for joint maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Notably, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is the only one among the 11 global shipbuilders that submitted a letter of intent to propose two platforms: the 3,000-ton submarine (KSS-III P) and the 2,300-ton submarine (HDS-2300).

Hanwha Ocean, on the other hand, signed an MOU with Poland’s leading defense group, WB Group, at the International Defense Industry Exhibition held last month. This agreement is expected to bolster Hanwha Ocean’s position in the competitive landscape of Poland’s defense procurement.

The stakes are equally high in Canada, where the “Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP)” involves replacing 12 new 3,000-ton submarines, a project estimated to be worth around 60 trillion won. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean both have strong intentions to participate. Industry watchers predict that the fight with Japan will be as fierce as the competition between the two leading domestic companies.

Meanwhile, the Philippines plans to order two medium-sized submarines, estimated at around 2 trillion won. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has a strong track record in the Philippines, having previously secured contracts for a total of 10 vessels in the country’s “Horizon” project.

Hanwha Ocean is betting on submarines specialized for the Philippines, which it showcased at the Asian Defense Industry and Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2024 held in Manila, Philippines last month. Based on the Korean Navy’s newest submarine, the Jang Bogo-III Batch-II, it introduced the 2,800-ton class and 1,400-ton class submarines, which were improved for operational use in the Philippines. Hanwha Ocean had the experience of exporting submarines for the first time in Korea by winning a project in Indonesia in 2011 during its Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering days.

Source: Business Korea