Ready Aye Ready – As climate change accelerates the melting of Arctic ice and opens up new strategic vulnerabilities in Canada’s vast northern territories, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is revisiting a long-dormant idea: the acquisition of amphibious assault ships tailored for polar operations.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defence Blog – Delphinus Engineering received a $14.5 million U.S. Navy contract, with options up to $36.9 million, to develop and test a bow array and lift system for Canada’s Victoria‑class submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval Today – The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has welcomed HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and offshore patrol vessel (AOPV), into naval service with a commissioning ceremony.

(Thanks to Alain)

Radio Canada – The Ministry of National Defense recognizes the presence of mold in several frigates, a problem denounced for years by retired officer Félix Dunn, victim of respiratory complications.

(In French) (Thanks to Alain)

Navy Leaders – Royal Canadian Navy submarine HMCS Corner Brook has headed out on operations in the Indo-Pacific following an extensive refit and sea trials.

(Thanks to Alain)

Breaking Defense – Australia is poised for its largest defense sale ever, exporting its Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) to Canada.

CTV – A Canadian military submarine that was heavily damaged when it ran aground off British Columbia in 2011 is back at sea for the first time since the collision, now undergoing mechanical trials near Victoria.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – The Canadian warship HMCS Regina (FFH-334) visited California last month for something of a sailor’s ideal day: Killing a target at sea.

USNI News – The Canadian government is requesting proposals from foreign defense contractors to determine how much it can afford to expand the size of its aging conventionally-powered submarine fleet.

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada – A modernized submarine fleet is not just a defence priority for Canada — it is essential to maintaining its status as a key player in Arctic and global maritime security.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – 10 Days on Patrol aboard Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Montréal.

Breaking Defense – The Canadian government announced today it is “taking the first steps” towards buying 12 conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines — a massive acquisition with numerous shipbuilders from the around world already eyeing the program reported to be worth at least $60 billion Canadian dollars.

Navy Lookout – On 28th June, the Canadian Navy formally announced the start of construction work on its River-class destroyers. Here we look at how this design has been developed from the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate.

Breaking Defense – Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said his German counterpart approached him about joining the German-Norwegian submarine package.

War on the Rocks – Canada’s military is in a “death spiral.” This is how Minister of National Defense Bill Blair described the state of Canada’s armed forces at last month’s Ottawa Conference on Security and Defense. 

Breaking Defense – The head of the Royal Canadian Navy issued a remarkably blunt and public assessment of his own fleet, citing numerous shipbuilding and recruiting issues that threaten the service’s ability to meets it obligations in the near- and long-term.

CBC – Defence Minister Bill Blair says a sense of urgency driven by security threats around the globe is behind the federal government’s decision to sole-source a deal worth more than $10 billion to buy a new fleet of P-8 military surveillance planes.

USNI News – Canada is sending three frigates a year and a replenishment vessel into the Western Pacific as part of Ottawa’s new strategy, its top admiral said Friday.

CIMSEC – Canada’s current naval capabilities fall short of meeting great power threats, which may diminish its usefulness in supporting allies in a Pacific conflict.

Covert Shores – The first images of Cellula’s new autonomous underwater vehicle in the water have surfaced. The Canadian company’s Solus-XR is a long-range extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV). 

Defense News – Canada is pledging to step up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific, with its defense minister announcing the nation will annually commit to the region an additional warship.

Korea Times – A planned summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is prompting speculation over a potential submarine deal between Korea and Canada as Ottawa plans to replace its aging submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

National Post – Military commanders and experts say subs are critical to defending Canada, including in the Arctic, as Russia and China build up their own underwater fleets.

(Thanks to Alain)

Globe and Mail – The Canadian military found and retrieved Chinese monitoring buoys in the Arctic this past fall, a development whose public exposure adds another item to a list of pressing concerns about Beijing’s interventions in Canadian affairs, including interference in recent federal elections.

(Thanks to Alain)

CIMSEC – Canada has been conducting annual Pacific deployments of strategic import, including Westploy in 2016, Operation Poseidon Cutlass in 2017, and Operation Projection since 2018. These deployments highlight increasing Canadian naval presence and naval exercising with other China-concerned partners in the region. The particularly successful Operation Projection of 2022 has complemented Canada’s recently-released Indo-Pacific Strategy and its maritime provisions for the future.