Hanwha has formally planted its flag in Canada’s defence landscape with the launch of Hanwha Defence Canada, headquartered in Ottawa—and it has tapped a seasoned Canadian naval and defence executive to lead the effort.
Hanwha Ocean, the maritime subsidiary of Hanwha Group, has appointed Glenn Copeland as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Canadian operation. The move signals a deliberate, long-term approach to Canada, pairing local leadership with sustained industrial engagement.
A former senior officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, Copeland brings more than two decades of naval experience alongside senior defence-industry leadership. In his new role, he will oversee Hanwha Ocean’s expansion in Canada, guiding defence and naval business activities as the company advances its participation in the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Hanwha Ocean has been shortlisted as one of the final contenders for the program.
Copeland’s appointment reflects Hanwha’s strategy of embedding experienced Canadian leadership as it deepens cooperation with Canada’s defence and industrial base. The approach underscores a commitment not only to the CPSP, but also to long-term engagement with Canada’s naval, security, and industrial communities—an increasingly important signal as Ottawa looks to pair capability delivery with domestic economic and technological benefits.
Before joining Hanwha, Copeland served as General Manager of Lockheed Martin Canada, where he was involved in major programs such as the Halifax-class Frigate Modernization. During that time, he also built extensive experience in the business development and international export of the CMS-330 Combat Management System. His defence-industry career followed 22 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy, giving him a rare blend of operational and industrial perspective.
“I am honoured to take on this role at a pivotal moment for Canada’s naval defence. Hanwha brings proven expertise in defence and shipbuilding, and I believe the company is well positioned to make a lasting contribution to the Royal Canadian Navy and to Canada’s wider defence industrial base. What drew me to Hanwha was its clear commitment not only to meeting operational requirements, but to building long-term industrial and technological partnerships that deliver real benefits for Canada. Hanwha will be that trusted partner that Canada seeks,” expressed Glenn Copeland, Managing Director and CEO, Hanwha Defence Canada.
The timing of the appointment aligns with key milestones in Canada’s submarine modernization. In August 2025, the Government of Canada confirmed Hanwha Ocean as a qualified supplier for the CPSP, based on its KSS-III submarine design. The program aims to deliver up to 12 submarines to modernize the Royal Canadian Navy and reinforce Canada’s long-term maritime sovereignty across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic.
With its Canadian headquarters now established and experienced local leadership in place, Hanwha is positioning itself not simply as a bidder on a single program, but as a long-term defence and industrial partner—one intent on contributing enduring capability, industrial growth, and technological collaboration to Canada’s evolving naval future.