Against the backdrop of the announced purchase of 12 new attack submarines, the Canadian government has launched a request for information to various players in the naval industry to assess the availability of submarines currently in production, outlining the requirements of its Navy for these vessels. In particular, Ottawa is considering the planned retirement of the Victoria-class submarines over the next decade and the Arctic’s configuration as a new geopolitical dispute scenario in light of its gradual melting.
According to the official Canadian statement, the deadline for responding to the request with initial comments is set for November 18, 2024. This is significant considering that the final contract award is anticipated for 2028, as Canada aims to avoid a temporal gap without submarine capabilities. In this regard, it has been specified that the Canadian Navy’s plans require the first of the new submarines to be available by 2035 at the latest. While the recipients have not been detailed, it is assumed that the main candidates include the Scorpene submarines from Naval Group, the Type 212/214 from TKMS, and the Korean-origin KSS-III, among others.
Regarding this, Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, stated: “As the Canadian Arctic becomes increasingly accessible, Canada needs reliable maritime capabilities to maintain the security of our country. Therefore, we are committed to building a more agile and better-equipped military while ensuring that these new contracts benefit our companies, workers, and Canadians. The acquisition of new submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy will enhance our ability to monitor and detect threats along our coasts and protect Canadians.”
For his part, National Defence Minister Bill Blair affirmed: “As a nation of the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific with the longest coastline in the world, Canada needs a new fleet of submarines. The acquisition of up to 12 conventionally powered submarines capable of operating under ice for the Royal Canadian Navy will improve Canada’s ability to detect and deter maritime threats, control our maritime access, and project power and attack capabilities beyond our shores. We look forward to working with industry partners to implement this crucial project in support of the priorities outlined in Our North, Strong and Free.”
With an increased budget for the defense portfolio, Canadian officials have also begun discussions with their counterparts in various allied countries while meeting with different European and Asian industrial players to advance a procurement plan based on processes similar to the one about to be undertaken. This is noteworthy, considering that one of the requirements for acquiring the 12 submarines is to address a partnership between the manufacturer and the local defense industrial framework, both in establishing new infrastructures and in personnel training, to provide economic benefits to the country from the potential purchase.
Finally, revisiting something mentioned earlier, it is important to highlight that the Canadian Ministry of Defence has begun to place greater emphasis on the Arctic scenario in light of its regression due to global warming; implying an ocean with increased accessibility for navigable routes. The Canadian case is not unique, as countries like the U.S., Finland, China, and Russia have also intensified their activities in the region over recent months, seeking to strengthen their military presence to secure a better position in the future dispute. In this regard, it is undeniable that over the next 30 years, the Arctic will emerge as a scenario that will demand greater surveillance and deterrence capabilities that Ottawa aims to acquire.
In official words: “Canada’s new fleet must provide a unique combination of these requirements to ensure that Canada can detect, track, deter, and, if necessary, defeat adversaries in all three of Canada’s oceans, while significantly contributing alongside allies and allowing the Government of Canada to deploy this fleet abroad in support of our partners and allies.”
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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