Canada’s push to strengthen its defence industrial base has gained fresh momentum, with AtkinsRéalis and Hanwha Ocean signing a strategic Memorandum of Understanding aimed at supporting the country’s submarine capability and long-term domestic industrial resilience.

Announced in Montreal on April 14, 2026, the agreement aligns with Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy and sets out a framework for long-term collaboration between the Canadian engineering and nuclear leader and the global shipbuilding and submarine manufacturer. Together, the two companies will explore opportunities to enhance Canada’s submarine readiness while helping build industrial capacity at home.

The partnership brings together AtkinsRéalis’ extensive expertise in submarine infrastructure and lifecycle support with Hanwha Ocean’s established submarine design and manufacturing capabilities. It marks an early but significant step in what both companies describe as an ambitious collaboration.

“At a time when resilience and sovereignty matter more than ever, the Defence Industrial Strategy reinforces a simple idea: security and prosperity go together,” said Stéphanie Vaillancourt, President, Canada, AtkinsRéalis. “This memorandum of understanding is a practical step to explore how AtkinsRéalis’ global experience in defence, combined with our Canadian capabilities, can support Hanwha Ocean in strengthening Canada’s sovereign submarine readiness and resilience, which will in turn support a high-tech manufacturing base and generate long-term economic benefits at home.”

Under the agreement, the companies intend to focus on three key areas: submarine infrastructure design and delivery across the full platform lifecycle; support for manufacturing capability in Canada to help establish the industrial base required for domestic submarine production; and collaboration across nuclear, power and broader defence sectors to create new strategic opportunities for Korean and Canadian industry in advanced technology markets.

For AtkinsRéalis, the move builds on decades of experience within the UK’s submarine enterprise. The company has worked with Rolls-Royce Submarines for more than 27 years and was recently appointed to a multi-year nuclear and engineering partnership, as well as fissile design partner alongside Mott MacDonald. Both appointments position AtkinsRéalis to support the trilateral AUKUS submarine programme, which will deliver the UK’s next generation of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines while supporting Australia in acquiring the capability for the first time.

Since 2010, AtkinsRéalis has also supported Babcock International at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth, England, where the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines are maintained, refuelled and overhauled.

Beyond defence, AtkinsRéalis is also the steward of CANDU® nuclear technology, operating on four continents. South Korea remains an important market, with three CANDU® reactors currently in operation out of four built since 1977.

For Hanwha Ocean, the partnership signals an opportunity to deepen industrial ties with Canada while contributing to future submarine capability development.

“Hanwha Ocean believes strong submarine programs are built on capable partners, proven delivery and a clear industrial framework,” said Steve SK Jeong, Senior Executive Vice President, Hanwha Ocean. “AtkinsRéalis brings strong experience in complex systems and lifecycle support, together with a strong understanding of the Canadian environment. Through this MoU, we have established a practical basis to explore how our teams can work together in submarine capability, industrial capability development in Canada, and long-term support, with the aim of creating lasting value for Canadian industry.”

As Canada looks to reinforce sovereign defence capabilities while driving economic growth, this new alliance could become an important blueprint for how international expertise and domestic industry work together.