Looking at the boats on offer, only one currently fills the specification Canada is insisting on. The KSS-3 from ROK has 10 VLS in its block 2 configuration, the German Type 212 has 0 VLS. If Canada requires the capability to deploy ballistic missiles that leaves it with the Korean boat , that’s also a very smart requirement since it allows for the nuclear deterrent that is obviously needed to be added down the line. The KSS-3 is currently deploying the Hyunmoo 4-4 ballistic missile, range of 800km, payload (I think) 1-2000kg. That could sling a thermonuclear warhead.

The cost of failing to deter aggression is incredibly high, look at Ukraine. We are in a similar situation, but we are even worse off. There is much less conventional parity between us and the hostile dictatorship next door. As an example, Ukraine started the war with a layered air defense network and thousands of interceptors to keep it in the fight, that led to Russian caution with their air assets and allowed a front to form. Canada has precisely 0 air defense batteries.

Ultimately there is no reasonable amount we can spend to gain conventional deterrent against the new United States. The money needs to yield a fast track to nuclear deterrence.

Unfortunately for us Canadians, we are staring at the choice between spending and sacrificing financially to hedge against the risk of invasion. If we don’t, and the worst happens, we’ll spend much, much more, and a lot of the cost will be blood.

Canada is facing an existential threat right now. While I agree that a sub building program is ultimately where we want to end up, we don’t have time or finance for that as well as the dozens of other procurements our military is desperate for. The KSS-III batch 2 would be a perfect fit for Canada in a few ways. Firstly, it’s a tested design and is in production. This could mean our forces could train immediately on in-service ROKN boats while new hulls are under construction. That could very much reduce time to deployment from the decade or so we’d need for a fully Canadian program to maybe 2 years. Secondly, the KSS-III is one of the very few conventional boats with VLS capability. It is paired with the Hyunmoo 4-4 ballistic missile, which has been successfully launched from the submerged boat. Since the only real defence Canada will ever have against American aggression is a nuclear deterrent, that capability could be key to deployment. The final point I would make in favour of the KSS-III is the size of the hull. It is already one of the largest conventional boats around. It would be a very solid design platform for an expansion to a nuclear powered platform in the future. That could represent a possible partnership between Canada and ROK going forward as our democracies look to survive against the authoritarian superpowers we are surrounded by.

The F-35 deal pretty much has go too, we can’t but our frontline equipment from an adversary. The modernization of the Rafale and the Gripen E both say they have an enhanced ability to engage 5th gen jets, both could be a good call for Canada.

This is genuinely the only reasonable sovereignnty guarantee in the current geopolitical climate. We haven’t had a nuclear deterrent since the 80s, time to reaquire it. That’s just dreaming though, Canada simply lacks decisive leadership under any part, at least that’s the evidence of the last 30 years or so.

This is the reality of what’s going on, the mainstream outlets aren’t quite able to bring themselves to say it out loud. Any other nation but Israel and the sanctions would be ramping up, but here we are, still wondering if this is the atrocity that means we should stop shipping weapons to them.