Forget the F-35 Fighter: Canada’s Navy Might Be a Bigger Crisis

Key Points – Canada’s Royal Navy urgently needs modernization. Its 12 Halifax-class frigates are aging, with planned replacements through the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program plagued by huge delays and ballooning costs—from an initial estimate of $26 billion to over $80 billion today.

-The Navy struggles with outdated vessels, personnel shortages, and insufficient Arctic capabilities. Meanwhile, Russia and China aggressively expand their Arctic presence, exploiting Canada’s vulnerability.

-Although Ottawa plans to build new submarines and enhance Arctic patrol vessels, Canada’s small fleet remains overstretched. To effectively protect its sovereignty, Canada must urgently upgrade its naval capabilities and strengthen Arctic defenses alongside the U.S.

Canada’s Naval Struggles 

Canada has been in the news a lot recently. Between tariffs, provocative chatter of Canada as a “51st state,” new Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to the White House, Canada’s urgent need for more submarines, and Ottawa pondering cancellation of its F-35 purchase from the U.S., it has been a busy time for our neighbors to the north. 

But Canada’s military issues aren’t limited to aircraft or submarines. The Royal Canadian Navy’s surface fleet is also aging and urgently needs upgrading. The RCN struggles with outdated equipment, recruitment and retention issues, and insufficient Arctic defenses.

Canada’s 12 Halifax-class frigates are nearing the 30-year mark of their service and need replacing. The frigates entered service in the mid-1990s and underwent a Frigate Life Extension program from 2014 to 2018.

The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is slated to replace the frigates with 15 newer ships. However, procurement delays and skyrocketing costs hamper modernization efforts.

Canada’s Surface Fleet Is Small:

Canada’s Pacific fleet, headquartered in Esquimalt, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, comprises 15 ships and submarines and employs roughly 4,000 military and 2,000 civilian personnel. Its Atlantic fleet, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, includes 18 ships and submarines, as well as approximately 5,000 military and 2,000 civilian personnel.

The RCN’s fleet of 40 warships relies on Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). These vessels comprise more than half of the surface force, and additional DeWolf-class boats are scheduled to be delivered. 

The CSC program is bogged down in delays and cost overruns. Initial estimates pegged the program at $26 billion; current projections exceed $80 billion, with some estimates over $100 billion. It may not be feasible.

The design of Canada’s CSC is to be based on the BAE Type 26 destroyer, which is currently being built for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. While the Canadian design will be slightly larger and heavier, the British project to acquire eight ships is pegged at $15 billion Canadian.

These ships are expected to feature cutting-edge sensors, weapon systems, and propulsion technologies and to be capable of operating in diverse maritime environments, from the Pacific to the Arctic.

About a year and a half ago, Royal Canadian Navy Commander Vice Adm. Angus Topshee stated in a video released on the RCN YouTube channel that the service is in a critical state, unable to sufficiently staff its aging surface combatant ships due to recruiting shortfalls.

This has forced the RCN to prioritize operating its 12 Canadian-built Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates over its 12 Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs).

“The RCN faces some very serious challenges right now,” Vice Adm. Topshee says in the video, posted in late November 2023, “that could mean we fail to meet our force posture and readiness commitments in 2024 and beyond.”

Further, Kingston-class ships lack the range, endurance, and capabilities needed for modern naval engagements, let alone what they need to handle the unique challenges of Arctic operations. These aging platforms limit Canada’s ability to project power and hinder its capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

The Arctic Region Is A Particular Weak Point

“The RCN’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS), while a step forward, are too few and too lightly armed to address the ambitions of competitors like Russia and China. Russia has built a formidable fleet of icebreakers and militarized its Arctic presence, while China has declared itself a ‘near-Arctic state,’ signaling intentions to exploit the region’s resources,” wrote Andrew Latham.

The RCN is planning to enhance its Arctic patrol capabilities by adding 12 conventionally powered submarines. These vessels are meant to replace the aging Victoria-class submarines that have been in service since the early 1990s.

“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,” Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said.

“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 RCN has been spread paper-thin by various commitments to NATO and anti-piracy deployments off the coast of Africa. With such a small fleet, Canada must prioritize defending the North Atlantic and the Arctic. The stakes are higher than ever there.

With the apparent thawing of relations with the United States, the U.S. and Canada need to work together to defend our northern flanks from bellicose enemy nations.

About the Author: 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.