Forging the Foundations of Canada’s Submarine Future

TKMS and EllisDon align on long-term infrastructure cooperation for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

Canada’s next-generation submarine enterprise is increasingly being defined not only by the vessels themselves, but by the industrial ecosystem required to sustain them for decades. From maintenance and repair facilities to advanced training infrastructure, the backbone of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) will be built on long-term, resilient, and Canadian-led capabilities.

Against this backdrop, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and EllisDon have signed a Strategic Teaming Agreement that signals their shared intention to develop a cooperative, sustainable, and enduring collaboration focused squarely on infrastructure cooperation for CPSP.

The agreement reflects a joint commitment to explore, develop, and implement cooperation related to submarine maintenance, sustainment, and associated training facilities in Canada—recognizing that world-class platforms require equally world-class support ecosystems.

Building Infrastructure That Enables Sovereign Sustainment

At the heart of the teaming agreement is a shared understanding: Canada’s submarine program represents a generational investment that must be underpinned by infrastructure capable of supporting operations, maintenance, and training over the full lifecycle of the fleet.

Recognizing the strategic importance of CPSP and the industrial depth required to support it, TKMS and EllisDon express a strong and genuine intention to jointly explore, develop, and implement cooperation related to submarine maintenance, sustainment, and associated infrastructure in Canada. The collaboration is driven by shared corporate values, mutual trust, and a commitment to innovation—aimed at creating sustainable, high-value infrastructure capabilities that contribute meaningfully to the program’s success.

Beyond physical assets, the partnership reflects a broader ambition: strengthening long-term industrial capabilities, increasing skilled employment opportunities, enhancing domestic value creation, and fostering durable economic benefits across Canada.

TKMS: Delivering the Infrastructure Concept

Within the CPSP framework, TKMS is expected to provide the overall infrastructure concept required for the maintenance and repair of the submarine fleet, as well as the associated training facilities for personnel.

Drawing on extensive experience gained over decades—and in cooperation with Norwegian partners—TKMS intends to develop a comprehensive infrastructure concept aligned with Canada’s specific operational, regulatory, and programmatic requirements. This concept is intended to ensure that facilities are designed from the outset to support availability, safety, efficiency, and long-term adaptability.

“We are proud to partner with EllisDon to explore a cooperative approach that supports Canada’s submarine ambitions,” said Thomas Keupp, Chief Sales Officer at TKMS. “TKMS brings decades of experience and deep know-how in submarine infrastructure requirements, and together with our partners, we aim to develop concepts that fully meet Canada’s operational and regulatory expectations.”

EllisDon: Translating Concepts into Canadian-Ready Solutions

EllisDon is widely known as Canada’s premier defence infrastructure contractor, leading the industry in both defence experience and overall project volume. Under the envisaged cooperation, EllisDon’s role includes overall responsibility for ensuring that the design and constructability of the TKMS infrastructure solution acknowledges Canada’s expectations and applicable requirements for the program.

This will require EllisDon’s expertise in shaping delivery approaches that align with overall budget and schedule timelines—while adapting complex, mission-critical infrastructure to Canadian standards.

“EllisDon is honoured to collaborate with TKMS on an initiative of such national significance,” said Chris Lane, Senior Vice President at EllisDon. “By contributing our expertise in adapting complex, mission-critical infrastructure to Canadian standards, we aim to help shape a sustainable, future-ready solution that delivers long-term value for Canada’s submarine program.”

A Foundation for Long-Term Industrial Growth

Together, TKMS and EllisDon are positioning infrastructure as a strategic enabler of Canada’s submarine enterprise—one that supports sovereign sustainment, workforce development, and domestic industrial participation from day one.

As CPSP continues to advance, this Strategic Teaming Agreement underscores a growing emphasis on building not just submarines, but a complete Canadian ecosystem capable of sustaining them for generations to come.



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