Royal Canadian Navy Discussions and updates

hauritz

Well-Known Member
I agree, the RCN's planned 15 replacement ships will not happen. I don't believe our current government will ever commit much above the previous allocation of 26 billion CDN. The RCN will be luckly to get 8 CSC ships. Our dollar continues to decline. The AOPS went from 8 to 6 ships and that reduction occurred when our dollar was much stronger. Building the Queenston class AORs offshore would get the RCN one more CSC.
I agree that with the quoted budget there is no way Canada will be able to buy 15 large frigates.

Faced with the same problem the British have opted for a hi-lo mix of frigates. I would be interested to hear whether on not a mix of frigates and corvettes would be worth considering in Canada's case given that the alternative would seem to be slashing the size of its frigate fleet.
 

alexsa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Okay, I know this is only a pet peeve of mine, but people keep conflating and confusing parts of USN and other nations' area air defence capabilities. The SPY array (in various versions) is part of the radar, while Aegis is the combat data system. This means a ship could theoretically be kitted out with an Aegis CDS and SMART, APAR, or CEAFAR radar arrays.
Thank you, you saved me from doing this as it irritates me as well. Notable that other system such as COMBATSS-21 are referred to AEGIS light.

Aegis light for USN frigate program

Also important is the different iterations of AEGIS have different capabilities (which is why Australia is already looking to upgrade the orphaned Baseline 7 we have) so capability depends on what you buy.

https://www.aspi.org.au/publications/awd-combat-system-an-upgrade-for-the-aegis/SI109_AWD.pdf
 

pussertas

Active Member
Apprecaition

John.

Do appreciate your postings.

Read everyone in the RAN, RCN forums.

Like Canada our useless pollies rule the roost

Keep up the good work.

:D
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
John.

Do appreciate your postings.

Read everyone in the RAN, RCN forums.

Like Canada our useless pollies rule the roost

Keep up the good work.

:D
All of us have issues with our pollies on a variety of issues but from my vantage point Australian pollies are doing a much better job than their Canadian counterparts, certainly on defence and probably on several other portfolios as well or put another way, your pasture is definitely greener than ours! Cheers, JF.
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
Here's an item from the Canadian senate's report on defence. This unelected body has produced yet another report that will be DOA. Mind you, 12 new subs works for me.

Report calls for 12 new subs for Canada – $50 billion price tag | Ottawa Citizen
Oh totally DOA. Off hand the proposal seems a bit far fetched for me and poorly thought out. Going from 4 to 12? People think Australia going from 6 to 12 will be near impossible and our submarines are actually working with plans how to expand the force so Canada going from 4 to 12 already tells me there dreaming.

As to the cost, Well there is a reason we ended up at $50 billion so unless Canada plan's to design there own submarine (Which is what Australia is doing) and cost it out 100% to how Australia has the Aussie price tag means nothing to Canada.

If they are serious they would propose an 8 boat fleet jointly built with Australia and new facilities built on each coast comparable to the ASC Adelaide facilities.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
Here's an item from the Canadian senate's report on defence. This unelected body has produced yet another report that will be DOA. Mind you, 12 new subs works for me.

Report calls for 12 new subs for Canada – $50 billion price tag | Ottawa Citizen
The secret is to make it an ongoing build.

In Australia's case that cost will be spread from now until the final sub rolls off the slipway sometime in the 2050s so it isn't like the government will have to ante up all that money over a couple of years. If Australia can afford that then certainly Canada should be able to do it.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
The secret is to make it an ongoing build.

In Australia's case that cost will be spread from now until the final sub rolls off the slipway sometime in the 2050s so it isn't like the government will have to ante up all that money over a couple of years. If Australia can afford that then certainly Canada should be able to do it.
Defence procurement staff in Australia have basically been told that we have 50 years of continuous work ahead of us... far better than the stop start process of times past
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Defence procurement staff in Australia have basically been told that we have 50 years of continuous work ahead of us... far better than the stop start process of times past
Well at least until the next opportunistic PM sees cutting the continuous build going forward as a good cost saving measure. Their budget looks good for a couple of years then their successors have to face the investment hump to get back to where we were.

This has been done several times, ordering the DDGs from the US in the 60s, the FFGs in the 70s, then the delays in needed programs in the 80s and the shipbuilding black holes from the late 90s and early 2010s. All it takes is the cancelation or delay of one program, or the pork barrelling of work to another state and we are back to square one and the same old short sighted narrative blaming the shipbuilders and workers for what was in actual fact caused by short sighted policy across the political spectrum.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Well at least until the next opportunistic PM sees cutting the continuous build going forward as a good cost saving measure. Their budget looks good for a couple of years then their successors have to face the investment hump to get back to where we were.

This has been done several times, ordering the DDGs from the US in the 60s, the FFGs in the 70s, then the delays in needed programs in the 80s and the shipbuilding black holes from the late 90s and early 2010s. All it takes is the cancelation or delay of one program, or the pork barrelling of work to another state and we are back to square one and the same old short sighted narrative blaming the shipbuilders and workers for what was in actual fact caused by short sighted policy across the political spectrum.
well, the greens were saying that we could save more money by not buying submarines.

thank god that they will never be a major party that can actually get into govt
 

Delta204

Active Member
Here's an item from the Canadian senate's report on defence. This unelected body has produced yet another report that will be DOA. Mind you, 12 new subs works for me.

Report calls for 12 new subs for Canada – $50 billion price tag | Ottawa Citizen
The only thing useful from this report is the fact that it acknowledges the importance of submarine capability for the RCN, but the comment on the AIP capability shows how ill informed they are IMO. If we are serious about artic sovereignty and want to have a legitimate naval combat capability in the arctic then SSN's are the only option... spending that much $ on anything else is foolish.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
The only thing useful from this report is the fact that it acknowledges the importance of submarine capability for the RCN, but the comment on the AIP capability shows how ill informed they are IMO. If we are serious about artic sovereignty and want to have a legitimate naval combat capability in the arctic then SSN's are the only option... spending that much $ on anything else is foolish.
Yes, at least this report acknowledges the importance of a sub fleet. I agree, SSNs make more sense for us because of the Arctic. There are other considerations as well such as support for our nuclear industry and the ability to have subs that can keep up with a USN CBG. Unfortunately the only realistic choice is the Virginia SSN and Electric Boat has enough work with current orders for SSNs and the forcoming Columbia SSBN. If something could be worked out to set up a Canadian yard with US help then this idea would be a small maybe. Would Canada be better off with a heavier emphasis on submarine capability over surface? IMHO, yes but it will pollies on both sides of the border who would will decide this, hopefully after seeking RCN and USN advice. To be clear, the chances of SSNs are just above zero and new SSKs are only a hair above that.:(
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
To be clear, the chances of SSNs are just above zero and new SSKs are only a hair above that.:(
There is nothing really stopping Canada from shadowing Australia.

Setup a Submarine continuous build program off, err the DCNS shortfin Cuda design. Then approach the Americans for combat systems, UK and US for sensors, US for weapons. Risk would be pretty low as Australia would be lead on most of the big ticket and complex items.

While it is not going to be a SSN, you are going to have a very capable blue water sub. In a few years when there isn't much ice up north, that may be a completely acceptable option.

While a SSN might be ideal, SSK beats nothing.

Actually Japan might be a more attractive option for Canada. If all you want to do is sit underwater for long periods and few transits, Japan might have just what you need. You might be able to balance the yard out with surface ship work.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
Setup a Submarine continuous build program off, err the DCNS shortfin Cuda design. Then approach the Americans for combat systems, UK and US for sensors, US for weapons. Risk would be pretty low as Australia would be lead on most of the big ticket and complex items.
That may be too late for them, those Upholder/ Victoria's are slightly older than the Collins fleet. They would have to commit pretty soon if that was the case. By past musing on this and other forums I just hope the French arn't taking us for a ride.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Older, but have spent a lot of time not being used.
...yes and a substantial investment has been made to keep them running for quite a while. Pollies will likely throw more money into them if necessary in order to delay a new build.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
...yes and a substantial investment has been made to keep them running for quite a while. Pollies will likely throw more money into them if necessary in order to delay a new build.
Your making a rational statement, when do the politicians do anything rational for defence?

All the see is save ing to be made by no longer supporting them if it's in there interests.

Just have to look at the JSF saga.
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
There is an idea, The pollies want the short term savings.. How about some nation build them and lease them to Canada.
 
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