A senior executive at German submarine manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has argued that Canada’s choice of supplier for its next fleet of submarines should consider linguistic and cultural factors, suggesting a joint German-Norwegian offer might be more compatible with Canada than a competing South Korean bid.

Philipp Schön, head of sales for TKMS’s submarine operating unit and senior vice-president of sales, made the remarks in a LinkedIn post highlighting the importance of language and cultural alignment in multinational defense projects. Canada is expected to decide soon between two contenders for its Canadian Patrol Submarine Project—a contract for 12 submarines valued at an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion for the vessels alone and potentially $40 billion to $50 billion including operations, maintenance, and upgrades.

The contenders are South Korea’s Hanwha, offering the KSS-III Batch-II submarine, and TKMS, which has proposed the 212CD model in collaboration with Norway. A selection of Hanwha’s vessel would mark Canada’s first major weapons purchase from a non-Western supplier and establish an unprecedented defense relationship with an Asian country.

Mr. Schön emphasized that TKMS’s submarine program is designed for multinational cooperation, with English as its working language, facilitating direct communication among engineers, operators, and industry partners without linguistic barriers. “Canada would not be adapting itself to someone else’s domestic language ecosystem. Canada would be joining a program already designed for multinational participation,” he wrote. He stressed that language affects all aspects of defense procurement, from technical documentation and software development to training and operational procedures.

The executive contrasted this with the South Korean offer, noting that while a plaque commemorating the South Korean navy’s visit to Victoria in spring 2026 was displayed at a defense expo in Ottawa, “friendship and integration are not the same thing.” TKMS declined to comment officially on Mr. Schön’s remarks, stating they were personal opinions, though Mr. Schön later clarified that his intent was not to disparage any country or culture, but to contribute to a discussion on interoperability.

Hanwha Defence Canada CEO Glenn Copeland responded to the language-focused argument, calling it “unfortunate” and not reflective of his experiences. He cited Hanwha’s multilingual team and pointed out that South Korea’s navy regularly operates alongside English-speaking partners, including in the U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). “Engineering and mathematics are the universal languages that deliver superb ships and submarines,” Mr. Copeland said.

Observers outside the bidding companies also weighed in. Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation, described the framing of the submarine choice in cultural terms as “unnecessary” and potentially divisive. She underscored Canada’s longstanding and mature partnership with South Korea across trade, security, and diplomatic spheres, cautioning that decisions should be based on capability, industrial benefits, and long-term value rather than cultural assumptions.

Similarly, Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, which has explored joint ventures with Hanwha, noted that South Korean firms generally have no difficulties operating in English. “But in fairness, maybe [Mr. Schön] doesn’t understand Canada well,” Mr. Volpe remarked.

As Canada approaches a final decision on its submarine acquisition, the debate underscores how factors beyond technical specifications—including language, cultural compatibility, and industrial collaboration—are influencing one of the country’s largest defense procurements in recent history.