Ben Morgan’s Pacific Update: South Korea chases Canadian defence contracts

Traditionally, Canada and the US have close defence relationships, including the US supplying most of Canada’s military equipment. However, President Trump’s behaviour towards Canada has strained these bonds. Now, Canada may be looking further afield to procure military equipment, including towards South Korea.

On 5 May, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that South Korean defence companies Hanwha Defense and Hyundai Heavy Industries, have approached the Canadian government offering to modernise the nation’s defence force. The contract would be worth $ 20 – 24 billion and is comprehensive including, artillery, armoured vehicles, submarines and a range of other equipment.

The quality of South Korean military equipment is first-rate, and the nation is fast becoming a defence industry heavy weight. For instance, Australia recently agreed to purchase South Korean K21 Infantry Combat Vehicles to replace its aging fleet of armoured personnel carriers. Additionally, South Korean artillery and ammunition are proving themselves in Ukraine. The South Korean K9 self-propelled gun proving to be very effective in combat.

Additionally, South Korea’s terms and conditions are reported to favourable for Canada. The South Koreans are offering providing unrestricted access to the technical information so that Canada can establish its own maintenance facilities, rather than having to return vehicles to South Korea for maintenance. A distinct difference to US companies that profit from providing long-term maintenance support to overseas fleets of their vehicles.

This proposal may not come to fruition but it indicates how the Trump White House can damage the US defence industry. The American defence industry is huge, and maintains its lead by being the ‘go-to’ supplier for US allies and partners. Trump’s attacks on Canada and Europe undermine confidence in the US, providing an opportunity for countries like South Korea to compete. Another country with a large defence industry keen to win lucrative defence contracts is Brazil, and we should expect to see Brazilian companies making similar offers.

It is also noteworthy because Canada is a ‘Five Eyes’ nation, the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand are not the world’s largest militaries but this coalition of nations has considerable influence on defence thinking. The militaries of these nations are regarded as well-trained, professional and effective. When a member procures large equipment outside the group it is unusual, and is noted by the wider defence community. If Canada is buying South Korean rather than US artillery, or submarines, then it will be seen by other nations as an endorsement of the equipment’s quality.

Exercise Balikatan 2025

Exercise Balikatan is a large annual exercise hosted by Philippines, it is multi-national and ran from 21 April to 9 May. This year 14,000 service personnel from the US, Philippines, Japan and 20 other countries participated in the exercise, practicing defending Philippines territory from an invading force.

The exercise is a rehearsal that provides insight into how the US, Philippines and their allies are planning for potential conflict in the area. For example, the US debuted its new US Marine Corp ‘Littoral Rotational Force-Luzon,’ a powerful unit of marines that will annually rotate to Philippines to exercise and familiarise themselves with the area.

Instead of being based on a standard Marine Air-Ground Task Force, the rotational force is headed by 3^rd Marine Littoral Regiment, a unit specifically designed to combat China’s ‘area-denial’ tactics. China’s key tactic against American forces is to use long-range missiles to deny US and allied forces access to the combat zone. The Marine Littoral Regiment is a counter to this tactic, its soldiers operating in small, highly mobile, dispersed groups that are hard to locate or target.

Likewise, US special forces were also active throughout the exercise, working with their allies. Like Marine Littoral Regiments, special forces, too would play an important role in any Sino-American conflict operating in small groups to slip within China’s ‘area denial zone’ and attacking Chinese surveillance assets.

The Marine Littoral Regiment is also equipped with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles both of which were deployed, and tested during Exercise Balikatan. In future Pacific conflict, the US aims to use forces like the Marine Littoral Regiment move weapons like this forward to dominate the sea and air.

A notable point is that Exercise Balikatan culminated in a large, realistic battle simulation involving thousands of soldiers. An opportunity to test international inter-operability, and practice the skills of war-fighting. The large simulation is part practice, and part deterrent. And, it is an indication of how seriously the US and its allies are taking the threat of conflict with China.

Another noteworthy point is the wide range of exercise participants and observers alongside the main protagonists; Philippines, United States, Japan, and Australia many other countries sent servicepeople. Including a significant number of observers from NATO nations like; the UK, France, Canada, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and the Netherlands. An indication of the Europe’s growing interest in the Pacific.

New Zealand to replace naval helicopter fleet

On 6 March, Janes Defence review reported that the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) will replace its Kaman Super Seasprite SH-2G(I) helicopters. The budget for the replacement is NZ$ 2 billion and could be a significant capability improvement for the RNZN.

The Seasprite SH-2G is the latest iteration of the helicopter that first went into service in the 1960s. It is a small aircraft with limited capability, and serves in relatively small numbers around the world. Egypt, Poland, and Peru are the other countries operating these helicopter that are now out of service in the US and Australia. The Seasprite SH-2G is slower and carries less than rival like the Westland Lynx and Sikorsky SH-70 Seahawk so has fallen out of favour internationally. The small number in service internationally means that spare parts are difficult to source and expensive, increasing the operating cost of the aircraft.

New Zealand Defence Minister, Judith Collins is clear that this project will be a capability upgrade, telling Radio New Zealand, “As a maritime nation we are prioritising naval capability. The new helicopters will be able to go further and carry larger loads, including weapons, personnel and equipment.” A clear commitment to improving the RNZN’s aviation capability.

A key consideration with the procurement is ensuring that the new platform meets not only current requirements, but is also easily upgraded. Soon, crewed naval helicopters are likely to operate as command hubs for supporting air and sea drones. This means that any new helicopter’s avionics and communications systems need to be easily upgraded to keep pace with developing technology.

Melanesian update

A regular update on the Pacific’s least reported trouble spot; Melanesia.

New defence treaty proposes options for Papua New Guinean’s to join the Australia Defence Force

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports that Australia and Papua New Guinea are negotiating a defence treaty that creates a pathway for Papua New Guinean national to serve in the Australian Defence Force. ABC reports that the first proposal presented to the Australian government envisaged “A recruitment model based on the Gurkha regiment in the British Army” and that the model raised ethical questions.

Currently, in Western countries militaries struggle to recruit soldiers. For example, the UK increasingly turns to other Commonwealth nations to recruit personnel, and many units now have soldiers born outside the UK. A notable, concern because current conflicts clearly point to the requirement for more soldiers. In May 2024, in an article titled ‘Break out the infantry!’ I discussed the need for larger Pacific militaries like US, Australia and New Zealand to increase the number of infantry soldiers available for security and stability operations in the South West Pacific. See here – https://benmorganmil.substack.com/p/break-out-the-infantry

This proposal is obviously a response to this trend, Australian defence planners looking at their recruitment figures and worrying that they will not be able to maintain force levels. And, from a Papua New Guinean perspective, the offer of good wages, and possibly Australian citizenship is a powerful motivator to join the larger nation’s military.

However, the question is how to structure the scheme in an ethical manner because one of the realities is that combat trades are the ones most likely to be filled by overseas recruits. And, it is always easier to recruit technicians than combat soldiers because trade training equips recruits for future civilian employment. This means overseas recruits are more likely to be recruited into combat arms like the infantry, and would therefore bear the brunt of combat casualties in any future war.

Potentially a difficult moral position, unless Australia is willing to look after its overseas veterans ensuring that they are rewarded for their sacrifices and receive support for the remainder of their post-military lives. People that serve in overseas units like the French Foreign Legion, or the UK’s Gurkhas are comprehensively supported by these nations for the rest of their lives.

Australia strengthens defence ties with Papua New Guinea during Exercise Talisman Sabre

The Australian Defence Force’s largest annual exercise Talisman Sabre is rapidly approaching, and starts in mid-July and finishes in mid-August. Exercise Talisman Sabre will involve approximately 30,000 people from 19 countries.

This year the exercise is different because part of it will be hosted in Papua New Guinea, an important recognition of how important the small nation is to Australia’s defence planners. Getting Papua New Guinea to host elements of such a large exercise is a way for Australia to demonstrate confidence in the smaller nation, helping to strengthen the existing relationship. A good example of military-to-military ‘soft power,’ Australia providing an opportunity for Papua New Guinea to demonstrate its capabilities on an international stage.

Additionally, by exercising in Papua New Guinea participants are familiarising themselves with the local environment and building relationships in the country’s military.

Ben Morgan is a bored Gen Xer, a former Officer in NZDF and TDBs Military Blogger – his work is on substack