With the decommissioning of Canada’s Victoria-class submarines on the horizon, the Government of Canada has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather insights from industry stakeholders on the availability and production of up to 12 submarines.
The move aims to strengthen Canada’s maritime defence and ensure that there are no capability gaps as the country navigates evolving security challenges.
This initiative seeks to gather insights on the availability of submarines that are either in service or in production and on the capability of the global defence industry to deliver up to 12 conventionally powered submarines to Canada.
This RFI represents a milestone in Canada’s plan to replace its ageing Victoria-class submarine fleet, which is set to be decommissioned in the mid-2030s. The objective is to prevent gaps in the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) underwater defence capabilities, with the first new submarine expected for delivery by 2035.
Submarine fleet to address Arctic security
“As Canada’s Arctic is becoming increasingly accessible, Canada needs reliable maritime capabilities to maintain our country’s security,” said the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement. “We are committed to building a more agile, better-equipped military while ensuring that these new contracts benefit our businesses, workers and Canadians.”
The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, initiated in 2021, is designed to secure the nation’s long-term naval strength by ensuring the country has submarines that meet modern operational needs, particularly in the increasingly contested Arctic region. Canada has the world’s longest coastline, spanning the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, and is facing growing security challenges from global powers that require underwater surveillance and deterrence.
The new submarine fleet will be tasked with providing capabilities such as stealth, lethality, persistence, and Arctic deployability. The latter is significant given Canada’s interests in the Arctic.
According to the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, “The procurement of up to 12 conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy will enhance Canada’s ability to detect and deter maritime threats, control our maritime approaches, and project power and striking capabilities further from our shores.”
Industry stakeholders are encouraged to respond to the RFI by November 18, 2024, with feedback that will help shape the procurement process. The RFI also seeks industry input on in-service support, training, and infrastructure for the new fleet. Additionally, the government is keen to explore how Canadian industry can be integrated into the project, stimulating economic growth and improving industrial resilience throughout the lifecycle of the new submarines.
This RFI follows ongoing discussions between the Government of Canada, allied nations, and submarine manufacturers in Europe and Asia regarding potential options for the new fleet.
Victoria-class submarines to serve until mid 2030s
The Victoria-class submarines, commissioned between 1990 and 1993 and purchased from the UK’s Royal Navy in 1998, have been the backbone of Canada’s submarine fleet for over two decades. The fleet has undergone upgrades under the Victoria-class Modernisation (VCM) project and will remain operational until the mid-to-late 2030s.
The Canadian Navy also has four Type 2400 Diesel-Electric Submarines in its fleet, acquiring them between 2000 and 2015, as GlobalData’s intelligence on the Canadian defence market revealed.
Canada plans to finalise a contract for the new submarines by 2028, allowing sufficient time to ensure the transition of submarine classes without any loss of operational capability.
