Government of Canada announces progress on new submarine Fleet acquisition.

According to information published by the Canadian government on September 17, 2024, the Government of Canada has taken significant steps toward upgrading the Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) submarine fleet as part of its broader defense strategy, Our North, Strong and Free.
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RCN's Victoria-class submarine HMCS Chicoutimi. (Picture source: Canadian DoD)

Currently, the RCN operates a fleet of Victoria-class submarines, which are scheduled for decommissioning by the mid-2030s. To maintain uninterrupted maritime capabilities, the government has launched the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project to acquire a new class of submarines.

As part of this process, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to global industry stakeholders. The RFI seeks input on submarines currently in service or production and aims to assess the industry’s capacity to build and deliver up to 12 submarines that meet Canada's defense requirements. Responses are expected by November 18, 2024, and will help shape the next stages of procurement.

In addition to gathering technical information, Canadian officials are engaging with allied nations and companies from Europe and Asia to explore potential submarine models that align with the country’s needs. The focus remains on securing submarines with advanced capabilities, including stealth, lethality, and Arctic deployability, ensuring their relevance across Canada’s three oceans and on international missions.

The Canadian government aims to award a contract by 2028, with the first new submarine delivered by 2035. This timeline is crucial to prevent a gap in capabilities as the current Victoria-class submarines near the end of their operational life. The existing fleet, commissioned between 1990 and 1993 and acquired from the UK in 1998, is being maintained under the Victoria-class Modernization project to ensure operational readiness into the mid-to-late 2030s.

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Key contenders for the contract include South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, which has entered partnerships with Canadian companies like CAE and J-Squared Technologies. Hanwha is promoting its Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines, noted for their advanced capabilities such as vertical launch systems and Arctic deployability, critical to Canada's defense needs in the increasingly accessible Arctic waters.

Additionally, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are presenting their Taigei-class submarines, which offer stealth and long-range endurance suited to Canada's requirements for Arctic operations.

European firms may also bid, including Saab of Sweden, known for its A26-class submarines, which are tailored for stealth and long missions, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems from Germany, which offers its Type 212 and 214 submarines, recognized for their fuel-cell propulsion and low acoustic signature.