Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada have agreed to collaborate to create the Arctic Sentinel Research Center, which will focus on the development of underwater surveillance technologies designed specifically for the Arctic environment.
According to a statement from both sides, thanks to the technical expertise of General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada in the field of integrated integration of sonars and advanced underwater monitoring techniques, this cooperation will support the German company TKMS's bid for the supply of new Arctic patrol submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy.
TKMS and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
TKMS
In addition, the Arctic Sentinel project aims to strengthen Canada's ability to control and protect its Arctic maritime territory by accelerating the development of advanced, climate-resilient underwater monitoring tools. The center will focus on the transition from prototypes to products ready for operational use.
TKMS and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada have committed to invest their own funds in the Arctic Sentinel project, which has the potential to generate up to $1 billion in added value domestically as part of a broader initiative to create a Canadian ecosystem of Dual-use Defense and Innovation Solutions (CDDE). According to Naval News, at the same time, Ottawa will retain intellectual property rights, and the project implementation time from concept to commissioning will be shortened.
"As part of the Arctic Sentinel project, TKMS and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada are creating a unique center of excellence under the auspices of CDDE, focused on the development of underwater surveillance technologies in the Arctic," said Jeronimo Dzaak, Senior vice president of OceanX at TKMS. "The collaboration with General Dynamics combines our extensive experience in submarine construction and maritime safety technologies with deep Canadian expertise in the integration of sonar and underwater monitoring."
As part of the collaboration, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada will lead the coordination of actions in Canada between industry and academia, as well as contribute using its own advanced technologies. This approach will bring together small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutes, and new technology partners with expertise in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and operations in the Arctic.
The main task of the partners is to accelerate the creation of prototypes, testing and development of export–ready dual-use technologies.
Recall that in 2021, the Canadian authorities launched the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) program, under which it is planned to purchase 12 submarines to replace obsolete Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines purchased from the UK in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The new diesel-electric submarines should enter service before the mid-2030s, when the current fleet will be decommissioned.
According to the latest information, Ottawa is considering a separate purchase option. In this case, TKMS will supply six submarines, and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean will supply six more.
