On 29 November, Babcock has announced the signing of 2 separate agreements with the main firms of South Korea’s defence industry landscape, specifically Hanwha Ocean and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd, i order to jointly pursue major programs worldwide.

The Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed with Hanwha Ocean, a giant in the shipbuilding and offshore company, is particularly aimed at the procurement programmes launched by Canada and Poland for new conventionally powered submarines.

With the ORKA project, Poland is looking at 3 submarines to replace its only remaining KILO-class boat, while Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project calls for a massive expansion of the submarine capability, from the existing 4 boats (ex UPHOLDER-class, purchased second hand from the Royal Navy) to a fleet of 12.

Hanwha Ocean is one of the main candidates able to respond to either requirement, while Babcock plays a key role in the construction and running of the UK’s own sub marines and is part of the team designing the SSN-A for UK and Australia within the AUKUS partnership.

Together, the 2 companies can propose a through-life, tailored solution for clients that will keep the boats supported from build phase to dismantlement. The Strategic partnership builds on an earlier, more limited relationship between the compagnie dating back to June 2023, when Babcock Canada had signed with Hanwha a Technical Cooperation Agreement aimed at the needs of Canada to support the existing submarines as well as the already mentioned replacement programme.

In February this year, the deal between the companies had already been expanded to look at “global” submarine opportunities. Hanwha and Babcock signed the new strategic cooperation agreement on 28 November with a ceremony attended by Babcock International CEO David Lockwood and Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul.

On the 27, Lockwood visited Hanwha’s Geoje shipyard in South Gyeongsang to explore the shipbuilder’s capabilities in ship design, construction, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). The separate Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Aerospace Industries, KAI, is targeted at joinly pursuing opportunities in military flying training services, air base support and engineering projects in central, eastern and southern Europe. Babcock already plays fundamental roles in supporting the air training fleets in both UK and France.

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