exclusive
The German arms company TKMS is hoping for a big deal: Canada wants to buy twelve new submarines, and Poland also wants to renew its fleet. Now the British government’s position is worrying, according to information from WDR And NDR to dissatisfaction in Berlin.
Billions of dollars are currently flowing into the defense industry around the world. Related orders appear to be becoming increasingly competitive. The latest example is a two billion dollar submarine order, which German arms company TKMS is currently trying to secure.
According to information from, there is a threat here WDR And NDR Now there are some problems and distractions from a surprising direction: the British government appears to be on the side of competitor TKMS in both potential submarine orders. A development that is making waves.
Complaint filed
According to research by WDR And NDR Last week even Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) took action and filed a complaint in London. This is primarily about the Canadian submarine project: Canada wants to modernize its submarine fleet. The current “Virginia” class ships are getting old, which is why the government in Ottawa announced in July last year that it wants to buy up to twelve new submarines.
A dozen new submarines means an investment worth billions. It’s still unclear where Canada wants to buy the swimming and diving giant; Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is said to have not yet made a decision. However, manufacturers from two countries are on the list and are competing for support from Canada: South Korea and Germany.
fight for Key technology
During his visit to Canada in October, Defense Minister Pistorius aggressively campaigned for contracts for the German arms industry. South Korea is building “very good submarines,” Pistorius said, “we are building better ones.” Specifically regarding the type 212CD diesel-powered submarine from TKMS in Kiel. “We want to promote and secure this important technology in Germany. And also secure jobs and related industrial knowledge.”
Competition for big orders from Canada, which industry insiders estimate will cost around 30 billion euros, is entering a heated phase. Now, interference comes from outside: Britain appears to be siding with South Korea and thus opposing Germany’s purchase of submarines.
At the end of October, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Forum took place in Gyeongju, South Korea. According to South Korean media, at a non-public appearance in front of several hundred attendees, the British ambassador in Seoul, Colin Crooks, made a surprising announcement: “The British government will immediately express its support for Hanwha in the Canadian submarine project.” Hanwha Ocean-HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a South Korean submarine manufacturer and a direct competitor to TKMS in the proposed deal with Canada.
Will Germany go home empty-handed?
The British position at this time caused discontent within the federal government WDR And NDR learn from government circles. Concerns are rising that Germany could potentially walk away from the Canadian submarine deal empty-handed.
According to information from WDR And NDR Chancellor Merz is even said to have called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week and expressed his surprise at the British government’s stance on this matter. “I ask for your understanding that we generally cannot report any confidential telephone calls or conversations,” the Chancellor said when asked.
Pistorius is also said to have picked up the phone and complained to his British colleague. Here too, confidentiality is referred to. The British Embassy in Berlin left the request unanswered.
Economic interests could play a role in London’s support for South Korea: The Canadian arm of the British arms company Babcock, previously tasked with repairing and maintaining Canada’s current submarines, only announced a close strategic partnership with South Korean company Hanwha in September. Babcock might also benefit if Canada buys its submarines from South Korea.
“Everything from one source”-Offer
“This collaboration agreement allows us both, as leading maritime organizations, to combine our respective shipbuilding and submarine maintenance capabilities,” said a joint statement from the two companies, “to provide a uniquely Canadian maintenance solution that will support Canada’s future submarine fleet from construction to decommissioning.” Or in other words: Canadians are being offered an “everything from one source” deal.
Most importantly, South Korea promises cheaper and faster delivery of submarines: four could be delivered by 2035, and another in the following years. “We need submarines as soon as possible,” emphasized the Canadian Navy Commander during a visit to South Korea several weeks ago.
The federal government, on the other hand, wants to convince Canadians of a strategic partnership between NATO countries including Norway. It’s not just about the submarine itself, Pistorius said in Canada, but more than that: “It’s about decades of cooperation. We’re talking about 40 or 50 years.”
The idea behind it: Several countries have the same type of submarines, so that, for example, personnel training can be carried out together, and maintenance and servicing will also be easier – and the costs of this will be reduced. Even mixed submarine crews are conceivable.
Demand for a uniform weapons system
Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik, who was in Ottawa with Pistorius, also promoted this. Ukraine’s experience shows that military equipment is often incompatible. “Weapons must be compatible between partner countries,” said Sandvik. “We have to buy the same weapons system.”
When asked, a TMSK spokesperson wrote that currently “in the context of the UK statement we can only orient ourselves based on media reports” and did not wish to comment on the German government’s diplomatic process.
Meanwhile, the British government appears to be siding with competitors from German defense companies in its upcoming submarine purchases: Poland also wants to buy new submarines. TKMS should also be on the short list. However, London is said to have recently pledged support to Swedish rival Saab. Here there is also the possibility of cooperation with the British company Babcock.
As Reuters news agency recently reported, a letter from Prime Minister Starmer was included in Sweden’s application for the Polish competition, which expressly supports purchasing the submarines from Saab. A British government spokesman declined to comment to Reuters but said: “We are turning the defense sector into an engine of economic growth – creating jobs and boosting the UK economy, while strengthening our commitment to NATO allies and European security.”
Criticism of the British government
CDU member of the Bundestag and defense politician Bastian Ernst criticized the British government’s position and referred to the “Trinity Home Agreement”, a security agreement that Germany and the UK agreed in October 2024. “The Trinity Agreement also concluded with the aim of deeper arms cooperation,” Ernst said. If Britain now turns completely to its own interests, “questions about Britain’s reliability as a partner will inevitably arise.”
There is no reason to intervene in the competition in Poland or Canada or to exert political pressure there. The federal government must now “seriously examine whether further cooperation is still possible under current conditions”.
The German company TKMS has about 8,300 employees and, in addition to frigates and corvettes, specializes in the construction of non-nuclear submarines. The company has locations in Kiel, Hamburg, Emden, Wismar and Itajaí in Brazil. Recently, TKMS managed to secure several orders: The Bundestag has approved the purchase of four additional Class 212CD submarines for the German Navy. Two are under construction. And Norway has also ordered four submarines from TKMS.
