Canada Initiates Acquisition Process for Up to 12 New Submarines

September 17, 2024 TruthUSA

Ottawa has initiated the official process to acquire up to 12 new submarines as part of its efforts to enhance defense capabilities in the Arctic and increase NATO defense spending.

A request for information (RFI) to industry stakeholders has been issued by the federal government this week on its tendering website, marking the initial phase in replacing the navy’s aging Victoria-class submarines.

The RFI, valid until Nov. 18, indicates that the government is progressing with its plan without committing to any actual submarine purchases. The purpose of the RFI is to gather information about the availability of submarines currently in service or production, as well as the industry’s capacity to construct and deliver up to 12 submarines to Canada, as stated in a Sept. 17 announcement.

“The acquisition of up to 12 conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy will improve Canada’s ability to detect and deter maritime threats, manage our maritime approaches, and extend power and striking capabilities away from our shores,” Defense Minister Bill Blair mentioned in the release.

“We anticipate collaborating with industry partners to implement this crucial project, in alignment with the priorities outlined in Our North, Strong and Free.”

National Defense anticipates awarding a contract by 2028, with the first replacement submarine scheduled for delivery no later than 2035, the government disclosed. Canada’s existing fleet of four submarines, acquired second-hand from the British in the 1990s, is expected to continue operating until the mid-to late 2030s.

Ottawa officially announced its intention to procure up to 12 new submarines earlier in the summer at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. Blair stated that Canada had already begun engaging with submarine manufacturers, but did not provide a timeline for the acquisition or disclose the planned investment for fleet upgrades.

Although the RFI does not specify a budget, it will assist National Defense in determining the financial support for the submarines and the resources required for fleet maintenance, as per the government’s statement.

Consultations are ongoing “with officials from allied and partner countries, and companies and navies in Europe and Asia that currently have or are in the process of building submarines that may meet Canada’s requirements,” the government mentioned.

The submarine procurement, part of the Liberal government’s defense policy plan, would contribute towards achieving NATO’s military spending objective of 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), as highlighted by Blair during the July conference. Canada presently allocates just under 1.4 percent of its GDP to the military.

The defense policy, released in April, emphasizes safeguarding Canadian sovereignty in the North and includes significant new expenditures. The plan encompasses the procurement of new submarines, long-range missiles, and early-warning aircraft, along with elevating military spending to 1.76 percent by 2030.

Nuclear Subs

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously mentioned the acquisition of nuclear submarines to ensure the defense of Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, as well as to join AUKUS, a U.S.-led trilateral security partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia. The nations collaborate on aspects like nuclear submarine propulsion and quantum technology under the defense-sharing agreement.

Canada is presently an observer in the second phase of AUKUS, not a participant. The partnership was established to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We will be evaluating the most suitable type of submarines for Canada’s responsibility in securing the longest coastline globally,” Trudeau remarked during an April 8 press conference.

“It is crucial for allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, to collaborate more closely, and these ongoing conversations between Canada and our partners will endure.”

Neither the RFI nor the government press release specified if Canada will seek submarines with nuclear capability.

Key requirements include “stealth, lethality, persistence, and Arctic deployability – signifying that the submarine must possess extended range and endurance,” the government noted.

“Canada’s new fleet must offer a unique combination of these requirements to ensure that Canada can detect, track, deter, and, if needed, overcome adversaries in all three of Canada’s oceans while actively participating alongside allies and enabling the Government of Canada to deploy this fleet overseas in support of our partners and allies.”

Source link