Multi-Day Technical Exchange Culminates in Senior Navy and Industry Working Lunch, Bridging Marine Operational Risk Expertise with Next-Generation Defence Capability
MONTAGUE, PEI, June 2026 – AKA Energy Systems is pleased to announce a milestone in its strategic expansion into the defence sector, marking the conclusion of a multi-day technical exchange workshop held in May 2026 in partnership with Hanwha (a global leader in industry, shipbuilding, and defence systems) and KTE (a Korean Electrical Integrator). The series of workshops culminated in a high-level working lunch on May 14, 2026, bringing together senior Royal Canadian Navy leadership alongside energy and marine industry experts, underscoring AKA’s unique position at the intersection of marine operational risk and defence readiness.
From Marine Risk to Defence Readiness: A Natural Bridge
AKA Energy Systems has built its reputation on identifying and mitigating risk in complex marine and energy environments – a discipline that demands rigorous technical standards, deep operational understanding, and a culture of assurance. AKA has significantly raised the bar in the industry concerning the reliability and predictability of power and propulsion systems and helped shape industry standards. It is precisely this foundation that positions AKA as a credible and capable partner in the defence domain.
The transition from commercial marine risk management to defence applications is not a departure from AKA’s core mission – it is an extension of it. The operational assurance frameworks, risk reduction methodologies, and systems-level thinking that AKA has applied in the energy and marine industrial sector have been proven over the last 20 years. These technologies are dual-use and translate directly to the demands of naval platform reliability, mission readiness, and crew safety.
Multi-Day Technical Exchange with Hanwha and KTE
From May 10 to 15, 2026, AKA Energy Systems hosted Hanwha and KTE at its Pooles Corner manufacturing facility in Prince Edward Island for an intensive series of technical exchange sessions. These workshops provided a structured forum for knowledge transfer across defence systems integration, platform risk assessment, and the application of commercial marine assurance practices to military contexts. The sessions allowed engineering, operational, and strategic teams to align on shared priorities, explore areas of technical complementarity, and lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration.
The engagement reflected a growing recognition within the defence community that commercial marine operators, particularly those with proven track records in high-consequence risk environments, bring critical, real-world perspectives that can strengthen naval capability development and procurement decision-making.
AKA, KTE, and Hanwha teams at AKA Energy Systems’ Pooles Corner manufacturing facility, PEI – May 2026
Working Lunch: Marine Risk Reduction & Operational Assurance
The workshop series concluded on May 14, 2026, with a working lunch session titled “Guest Perspective: Marine Risk Reduction & Operational Assurance.” The session convened a distinguished group of participants including senior Royal Canadian Navy leadership, representatives of AKA’s customer base and Fortune 500 companies, and retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, one of Canada’s most respected former naval officers.
The working lunch surfaced key themes central to both commercial and naval operations: the systemic nature of marine risk, the critical role of operational assurance in maintaining mission capability, and the value of cross-sector collaboration in developing solutions that are technically robust and operationally trusted. Perspectives from representatives of the global marine and energy operation markets added a powerful commercial dimension, reinforcing that the challenges of risk management at sea are shared across sectors, and that the solutions AKA has developed are directly relevant to naval requirements.
The presence of retired Vice-Admiral Norman brought a uniquely senior naval lens to the discussion, grounding the technical exchange in the realities of fleet operations, leadership under uncertainty, and the strategic importance of platform reliability in a contested maritime environment.
Workshop participants outside AKA Energy Systems’ Global Headquarters, Montague, PEI – May 2026
A Budding Partnership Built on Shared Values
AKA’s growing relationship with Hanwha and KTE represents more than a commercial partnership – it is a strategic alignment between organizations that share a commitment to engineering excellence, operational integrity, and the responsible reduction of risk in high-stakes environments. Hanwha’s world-class defence manufacturing capability, KTE’s technical expertise, and AKA’s deep roots in marine risk assurance form a complementary triad well-suited to address the complex demands of modern naval operational excellence, procurement and sustainment.
“AKA was founded on the principle that understanding and managing risk is the foundation of operational excellence,” said Martin Simic, Director of Strategic Development at AKA Energy Systems. “Our entry into the defence sector is a natural evolution of that mission. The work we did alongside Hanwha, KTE, Navy leaders, and industry partners like Shell is a testament to the relevance of our expertise and the strength of the relationships we are building. We are proud to be contributing to Canada’s defence capability from a position of genuine technical credibility.”
Hanwha Ocean, KTE, and AKA have already signed a teaming agreement to support Hanwha Ocean’s bid to supply up to 12 new submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy. If successful, this would not be a short-term transaction. It could position AKA and other Canadian partners for decades of work – potentially covering approximately 10 years of construction and delivery, followed by up to 40 years of maintenance, support, upgrades, and sustainment.
Looking Ahead
AKA Energy Systems is committed to deepening its engagement with Hanwha and KTE as its defence strategy matures. The May 2026 technical exchange has established a solid foundation – technically, relationally, and strategically – for future collaboration on naval platform support, risk assurance services, and integrated defence solutions.
The projects that AKA, Hanwha, and KTE plan to pursue together in Industry and Defence are expected to generate meaningful economic benefit for Canada by creating skilled technical jobs and strengthening domestic defence and industry capacity.
For AKA, this partnership represents a direct catalyst for growth – expanding the company’s team, capabilities, and footprint in PEI and beyond. This work goes well beyond meetings. The partners are already taking concrete action to localize equipment in Canada, to pursue joint research and development, and to compete together for export opportunities in international markets.
This is exactly the kind of outcome Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy is designed to deliver. The Strategy’s “Build–Partner–Buy” approach calls for building sovereign industrial capacity in Canada, partnering with trusted allies where joint development makes sense, and positioning Canadian companies to grow and export globally.
AKA looks forward to continued engagement with Navy partners and allied industry stakeholders as it advances its role in Canada’s evolving defence landscape.
About AKA Energy Systems
AKA Energy Systems (Aspin Kemp & Associates Inc.) is an Atlantic Canadian energy systems integrator that designs, manufactures, and supports advanced power and energy management solutions for marine, offshore, and land-based applications worldwide. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Montague, Prince Edward Island, AKA is recognized internationally for high-reliability Marine, hybrid, and microgrid technologies. The company operates a 100,000 sq ft vertically integrated campus in Atlantic Canada, with offices in Europe, the United States, and Singapore and a worldwide field services team.