Canada launching process to acquire up to 12 conventionally-powered submarines
News release
July 10, 2024 – Washington, D.C. – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
Canada is the country with the largest coastline in the world – an underwater surveillance capability is crucial to our security and sovereignty.
As outlined in our defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, released in April 2024, our Arctic is now warming at four times the global average, making a vast and sensitive region more accessible to foreign actors who have growing capabilities and regional military ambitions. By 2050, the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia.
Canada's Northwest Passage and the broader Arctic region are already more accessible, and competitors are seeking access, transportation routes, natural resources, critical minerals, and energy sources through more frequent and regular presence and activity. They are exploring Arctic waters and the sea floor, probing our infrastructure and collecting intelligence. In the maritime domain, Russian submarines are probing widely across the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans and China is rapidly expanding its underwater fleet.
In response to these emerging security challenges, in Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada committed to exploring options for renewing and expanding our submarine fleet, in order to allow Canada to detect and deter threats and control our maritime approaches. We made this commitment because Canada’s current fleet of four Victoria-class submarines is becoming increasingly obsolete and expensive to maintain. Canada needs a new fleet of submarines to protect our sovereignty from emerging security threats.
Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canada is taking the first step towards the procurement of up to 12 conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines – and that Canada is launching the process to formally engage industry on this acquisition. This is an important step in implementing Canada’s renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free.
Through the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), Canada will acquire a larger, modernized submarine fleet to enable the Royal Canadian Navy to covertly detect and deter maritime threats, control our maritime approaches, project power and striking capability further from our shores, and project a persistent deterrent on all three coasts.
The Department of National Defence is currently in the process of meeting with manufacturers and potential partners, as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). A formal Request for Information will be posted in fall 2024 to gain further information on the procurement, construction, delivery and operational capabilities of potential bidders who can build submarines for Canada. This RFI will also seek to gain information which will enable the establishment of a submarine sustainment capability in Canada. This procurement will enable Canada to develop closer ties with its allies and partners and establish a strategic partnership that not only delivers the submarines themselves, but creates a durable relationship between Canada and its strategic partner(s) to support personnel training and the sharing of information.
Canada’s key submarine capability requirements will be stealth, lethality, persistence and Arctic deployability – meaning that the submarine must have extended range and endurance. Canada’s new fleet will need to 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 contributing meaningfully alongside allies and enabling the Government of Canada to deploy this fleet abroad in support of our partners and allies.
The procurement of up to 12 submarines is necessary to ensure the defence of our three coasts, and the federal government is looking forward to working with industry to find a partner that will deliver world-class submarines for Canada.
Quotes
“As the country with the longest coastline in the world, Canada needs a new fleet of submarines – and today, we’ve announced that we will move forward with this acquisition. This new fleet will enable Canada to protect its sovereignty in a changing world, and make valuable, high-end contributions to the security of our partners and NATO Allies. We look forward to delivering this new fleet to the Royal Canadian Navy.”
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
Quick facts
-
As outlined in Our North, Strong and Free, the security situation in our Arctic and North is changing as the region becomes more accessible. We are seeing more Russian activity in our air approaches, and a growing number of Chinese dual-purpose research vessels and surveillance platforms collecting data about the Canadian North that is, by Chinese law, made available to China's military.
-
In Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence, the Government of Canada announced $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over 20 years in new defence spending. This builds on historic investments the federal government has made to date to support members of our Armed Forces, strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities, and respond to global challenges.
-
In addition to the funded initiatives in Our North, Strong and Free, Canada also identified ten capabilities for which we will explore options, including:
- renewing and expanding our submarine fleet;
- acquiring new vehicles adapted to ice, snow and tundra;
- enabling our Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels to embark and operate our maritime helicopters at sea;
- making further contributions to the integrated air and missile defence of Canada and North America;
- acquiring ground-based air defences to defend critical infrastructure;
- acquiring long-range air- and sea-launched missiles;
- modernizing our artillery capabilities;
- upgrading or replacing our tank and light armoured vehicle fleets;
- establishing a light armoured vehicle production program; and
- acquiring a suite of surveillance and strike drones and counter-drone capabilities.
-
Today, Canada is announcing that it is moving forward to engage industry on the renewal and expansion of Canada’s submarine fleet – in particular, the purchase of up to 12 conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines.
-
Four Victoria-class submarines were purchased from the British Government in 1998, and delivered to Canada over a four year period from 2000 to 2004. The first three submarines—Victoria, Windsor and Corner Brook—were commissioned into RCN service shortly after their arrival in Canada. The fourth, Chicoutimi, was delivered to Canada in 2004, but was not commissioned into RCN service until 2015, due to a fire in 2004 and subsequent work required.
-
The Government of Canada has committed to modernizing and operating the Victoria-class into the mid-to-late 2030s.
Associated links
Contacts
Diana Ebadi
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: Diana.Ebadi@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
Page details
- Date modified: