As Canada moves closer to a decision on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), the Republic of Korea Navy’s KSS-III submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho has completed a high-profile Pacific deployment that combined endurance operations with a live demonstration of interoperability alongside the Royal Canadian Navy.
The 3,000-ton submarine departed Jinhae Naval Base on March 25 and is scheduled to arrive at CFB Esquimalt in Victoria, British Columbia, on May 23 after travelling roughly 14,000 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean, including stops in Guam and Hawaii.
The deployment served as more than a transit mission. Throughout the voyage, the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho demonstrated the operational range, endurance, and self-sufficiency that Canada has identified as key requirements for the CPSP competition, for which the submarine is being proposed.
Two Royal Canadian Navy members — Lieutenant Commander Brittany Brousseau and Petty Officer Jake Dickson — joined the Korean crew during part of the deployment, participating in communications and training activities at sea.
The most significant milestone came on May 18, when the Republic of Korea Navy announced that the submarine had successfully established communications with the Royal Canadian Navy Pacific Fleet under simulated wartime conditions using its onboard combined C4I system.
The communications exchange allowed both navies to directly verify interoperability in an operational environment, demonstrating the ability of Korea’s submarine communications network to integrate with NATO allies such as Canada.
The exercise also showcased the advanced communications capabilities of the KSS-III platform while reinforcing the growing strategic relationship between Canada and the Republic of Korea.
Captain Lee Byung-il, commanding officer of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, stated:
“This successful communications exchange will demonstrate the capability of our Navy to expand its operational reach into multinational combined operations, including with NATO allies like Canada. Based on robust interoperability, we will continue to demonstrate the exceptional mission capabilities of Republic of Korea submarines.”
Beyond the technical achievement, the operation highlighted the broader potential for expanded Canada-Korea maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic regions.
The deployment also marks another step forward in the evolving bilateral defence relationship between the two countries following the Canada-Republic of Korea Security and Defence Cooperation Partnership announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Lee in October 2025.
That framework was designed specifically to strengthen military-to-military interoperability between the two allied nations, building on a defence relationship rooted in shared operations dating back to the Korean War.