Submarines

Four firms including CAE, J-Squared Technologies, Modest Tree and Des Nedhe will be the key players in providing simulator technology, electronic componentry, virtual reality (VR) training systems and submarine-related constructions and logistics solutions.

Earlier this year, Naval News reported that Hanwha Ocean signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Babcock on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). In addition to that, four new MOUs which were secured during Deep Blue Forum 2023 will further strengthen Hanwha Ocean’s foothold in Canadian maritime defense sectors, as Royal Canadian Navy seeks to replace its aging fleet of four Victoria-class submarines with newer models from international sources.

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The federal government is asking defence contractors in allied nations about the sorts of submarines and maintenance capabilities they could offer Canada.

A request for information (RFI) — the first step in the formal process to replace the navy's four-decade-old Victoria-class submarines — was issued Sunday on the federal tendering website.

At the recent NATO summit in Washington, the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced it would proceed with the project but did not offer any concrete timelines.

The idea of acquiring new submarines was mentioned in last spring's defence policy update only as a possibility. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Bill Blair insisted in the aftermath of the policy's release that the project was more a question of when and how much, rather than if.

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Canada definitely plans to move forward with the purchase of new submarines, the federal government announced on the margins of the NATO Summit on Wednesday.

Up to now, the government has spoken only about the possibility of replacing the aging Victoria-class boats. But in the face of mounting criticism of Canada's defence spending by allies — notably the United States — Ottawa has given the proposal the green light.

A senior government official, speaking on background, said they could not confirm how much the plan will cost, how many boats will be purchased or when they will arrive.

The submarine construction program will be separate from the National Shipbuilding Strategy because no shipyards in Canada currently have the capacity or technology to build sophisticated sub-surface vessels.

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OTTAWA — The Liberals’ new defence policy is promising to at least consider expanding and renewing Canada’s submarine fleet, and the prime minister is not ruling out that nuclear submarines could be part of that upgrade.

The long-awaited defence policy review was released at Canadian Forces Base Trenton on Monday. It includes billions in new proposed spending that the government said would bring the country’s military budget closer to NATO target of two per cent of GDP, but it will still fall short.

The policy review was launched just after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and was proposed as a response to the changing global situation. The document said Canada would consider investing in new submarines.

“We commit to vastly improving the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to surveil and control our underwater and maritime approaches,” the document reads. “We will explore options for renewing and expanding our submarine fleet to enable the Royal Canadian Navy to project a persistent deterrent on all three coasts, with under-ice capable, conventionally powered submarines.”

Canada has four diesel submarines purchased second hand from Britain in the late 1990s. The submarines have a dismal performance record and have spent much of their time in dry dock undergoing lengthy repairs. During a recent four-year span, all four submarines spent a combined total of just 214 days in the water, with two of the subs spending no time at sea at all.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government will start a process to determine what would be the best fit as a replacement. While the defence review suggested the subs would be “conventionally powered,” Trudeau didn’t rule out considering a nuclear-powered fleet.

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