Kongsberg is supporting Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, in its bid to win what would be a multi-billion dollar contract to build Canada a new fleet of submarines capable of patrolling under the Arctic sea ice.As the international competition for Canada’s lucrative submarine contract heats up, a Norwegian defence company is trying to sell Ottawa on its “alignment” with an Arctic near-neighbour.Kongsberg is supporting Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, in its bid to win what would be a multi-billion dollar contract to build Canada a new fleet of submarines capable of patrolling under the Arctic sea ice.“We like to lose to Canada in ice hockey. It’s one of the countries we like to lose to,” joked Kjetil Myhra, executive vice president of defence systems at Kongsberg. “The cultural fit, being Arctic-centric nations, being NATO members — there’s so much alignment.”He told The Canadian Press his firm has already poured a lot of effort into developing things like seabed surveillance technology that can operate in the Arctic environments, and is in talks with Canadian companies about partnering in areas where Norway and Canada share strategic interests.This is a key part of how both TKMS and Kongsberg — and their respective governments — are pursuing the sub contract: by presenting themselves as part of a group of nations and private companies building or operating the same subs and working in the same environments.In other words, they’re inviting Canada to join a sub club that could keep Russia’s maritime operations in check in northern waters.Kongsberg is supplying the TKMS 212CD subs with its combat system, dubbed ORCCA, which will operate in the Norwegian and German subs — and in Canada’s too, if TKMS wins the contract.Canada is in a race to replace its four aging Victoria class submarines by their planned retirement date in 2035. Only one of those boats is currently operable.Ottawa is looking to buy a new fleet of up to 12 submarines largely off the shelf from a foreign supplier, having pared down the field this year to just two firms: South Korea’s Hanwha Oceans and Germany’s TKMS.Kongsberg company brass have been in and out of meetings in Ottawa and Halifax with Canadian defence officials over the past few days, and met with ministers on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum.Part of Kongsberg’s sales pitch is its track record. It has operated in Canada for decades and has exported defence tech into international markets.The firm is currently outfitting the Royal Canadian Navy’s River-class destroyers with key operating components and naval strike missiles. Company officials said they are also negotiating procurement of its joint strike missile for the F-35s Canada is buying. (ICE TORONTO)

Fonte notizia: https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/