Politics·ExclusiveGermany’s defence minister says submarine maker ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems can deliver four Type 212-CD submarines to Canada by 2036, matching a key South Korean promise by reallocating boats from German and Norwegian orders. The bid also includes billions in proposed industrial investments, turning Ottawa’s looming submarine choice into a broader strategic and economic decision.Bid matches South Korean promise and includes billions in proposed economic investmentsMurray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty, right, and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius pose in front of a CT-153 Juno helicopter at the annual defence industry trade show CANSEC, in Ottawa on Wednesday. Germany is pitching Canada on a deal to buy German-Norwegian subarmines to replace its aging fleet. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)Should the Liberal government decide to go with the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) bid, the German shipbuilder has now pledged to deliver four Type 212-CD submarines to the Canadian Navy by 2036, the country’s defence minister tells CBC News.Boris Pistorius said Wednesday that he has every confidence that the company will meet the delivery goal, which emerged early on as one of the major competitive differences between TKMS and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean shipyard."They say we are able to do so. That's deliverable of the proposal, of the offer," Pistorius said in an exclusive interview on the margins of the Ottawa arms expo CANSEC, put on by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries."They say they can do that and I trust them because I have only good experiences with them. They only promise what they can really achieve."WATCH | Details of German and Norwegian submarine proposal:Germany's submarine bid pledges $86B investment, jobs in Canada7 hours ago|Duration 1:53Under pressure to beat South Korea's bid, Germany is committing to provide four completed vessels by 2036, along with infrastructure and military investments worth tens of billions of dollars, CBC News has learned.Concerns around delivery timelineAlmost from the outset of the competition last year, Hanwha stated it could deliver four of its KSS-III submarines to Canada by 2035. The date is important because the Canadian navy plans to retire all of its current Victoria-Class submarines by then. As it stands, only one-of-four existing boats is operational and the navy urgently requires replacement.TKMS had been fuzzy on how it could match the timeline. But Pistorius acknowledged that both Germany and Norway — also a partner in the program — have offered to give up one boat each from existing orders for their own navies in order to help meet the Canadian demand. The shipbuilder would also then prioritize the next two boats for Canada.ExclusiveGerman submarine bid promises Canada $86B economic boost and tens of thousands of jobsKorean firm promises speedy delivery as Canada narrows field for submarine contractPistorius said both Germany and Norway would make up the loss later in the production schedule, and in his view it’s important for allied solidarity. "We are absolutely convinced that it is in our joint interest in NATO and between Europe and Canada to strengthen all the capabilities of our Canadian allies," Pistorius said."It is about reliability among partners and allies. It's about a joint and mutual perspective on the threats we all have to face together. And this is about focusing on the areas in which the threat is the most relevant and present. And this, of course, for example, the High North, the Arctic, the North Atlantic."WATCH | German defence minister trusts TKMS to deliver subs on time:German defence minister says NATO capabilities wouldn't be hurt by Canada jumping submarine queue1 hour ago|Duration 1:21German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius tells CBC News that he trusts German submarine builder TKMS to deliver if Canada decides to purchase its boats. 'We are talking about NATO requirements, NATO capabilities, so there is nothing to lose,' he said.German pitch includes range of investmentsThis week, CBC News had a chance to examine a summary of specific information related to the German submarine pitch.The government in Berlin is looking at a wide range of investments in the Canadian economy — both military projects associated with the submarines and projects outside of defence.For example the Germans are proposing a partnership with Alberta for a carbon capture facility using skipyard’s technology. It’s also willing to invest in turning the Port of Churchill in Manitoba into a major export hub — especially for liquified natural gas (LNG).Deadline day: $20B submarine showdown puts Korean and German bids in spotlightGerman or South Korean subs? Ottawa's pick will hinge on economic windfallOn the defence side, TKMS is planning to build submarine maintenance facilities on both coasts. But separately there are proposals to build a factory to make heavy torpedoes and develop hypersonic missiles.All of this adds up to billions of dollars of investment and possibly tens of thousands of jobs over the decades.South Korea has made similar promises, if they get the contract.What makes this German bid different is that most of the projects they’re proposing are frontloaded and can be up and running in two years.Hanwha Ocean and South Korea have been slick in their promotion of their bid, with a high profile campaign that included a visit by brand new KSS-III submarine to Victoria last weekend.WATCH | The South Korean submarines Canada might use to replace aging fleet:Korean submarine on display in bid for Canadian contractMay 25|Duration 2:06A brand new Korean submarine, the Dosan Awn-Chung-Ho, arrived at CFB Esquimalt as part of a bid for a Canadian military contract for 12 new submarines. The main competitor is a German/Norwegian supplier.Pistorius rejected any suggestion that the Germans and Norwegians have been playing catch-up in terms of perception in Canada."It is not about how much we do in public promotion. It's not about being there or being here. It's about making clear we are talking about and discussing a very, very important deal between Canada and TKMS in Germany," the minister said. "It's about strategic issues … It's so crucial and it's a strategic relevance for NATO as a whole."Decision about more than military: CarneyPrime Minister Mark Carney and Defence Procurement Minister Stephen Fuhr say both the German and South Korean submarines meet the navy’s requirements, and a decision on which bid to follow will be made within a month.Carney, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said the decision is bigger than just the military requirements.Prime Minister Mark Carney, second from right, pretends to put a model submarine in his pocket as he and Minister of Industry Melanie Joly, far right, speak with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems CEO Oliver Burkhard, far left, and Germany's Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, during a tour of a submarine-building facility in Kiel, Germany, last August. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)"Certainly the economic implication, the broader economic benefits" are one factor, the prime minister said, adding that Canada is also looking for "a partnership that extends more broadly and strategically."Defence analyst Dave Perry says it’s going to be a tough choice because both the German-Norwegian bid and the South Korean pitch bring a lot to the table.German, Norwegian officials urge Canada to join 'familiar family' in buying new submarinesSouth Korea's Hanwha sweetens the pot at deadline for submarine bidsHe says they’ve clearly had a different approach in terms of how public and communicative they've been about their bids."I think we’ve sort of seen some evidence the [Canadian] government has been really fairly clever and tried to create a highly competitive, really good offer for Canada," said Perry, the president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.ABOUT THE AUTHORMurray Brewster is senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa.Follow Murray Brewster on Twitter