RCN Requirements Talk

By  David Morse, 2 February 2025

Slide on Current RCN UAV Projects as presented by Director Naval Requirements to the Naval Association of Canada in January 2025. Credit: RCN via Naval Association of Canada

In the past week, The Naval Association of Canada posted this update by Captain (N) Drew Graham, the Director of Naval Requirements. The video provides a broad view of new naval projects. The brief does not provide information of the existing River Class or Submarine projects but it does provide insight into the fleet concerns in the present environment. A major communications project is intended to ensure continuity of secure communications in the face of increasing disruptive technologies. An array of uncrewed systems, some of which will come into service in the next few years, are intended to provide above water and underwater surveillance in both the AOPS and Halifax classes. Interestingly and importantly this capability will be "organic" to the fleet with sailors operating and maintaining these uncrewed systems. An hour endurance UAV for the Halifax class will be a significant addition to capability.  Other remote systems for mine warfare and long endurance underwater surveillance offer similar capability gains.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the presentation was the suggestion that the RCN is "aggressively" pursuing a corvette design to replace the Kingston class (the last of which seems to be scheduled for decommissioning in 2029). The corvette at around the 1,000 ton size is envisioned to have frigate-like capabilities in air and subsurface domains. As envisioned by DNR the corvette would have air search and missile capabilities allowing it to integrate in continental defence. This is an ambitious goal for a small and minimally crewed vessel.

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Preview: Canadian Naval Review Vol. 20 No. 3

As the winter settles in and the holiday season is over, it’s good to have something to look forward to (other than spring, which is still far away)! We can provide that for you. The winter issue of CNR is coming soon! I know we say this every time, but this issue is superb. Prepare to be delighted!

In the upcoming issue, the Editorial by Rob Huebert discusses some little-discussed elements of future conflict for which we need to be prepared – eg., repairing ships that have been damaged in battle and the processes for repatriating the fallen. As well, you’ll find an extremely interesting interview conducted with Commodore Jason Armstrong, Director General Naval Force Development (NFD).

We find out what’s up with NFD and what’s not up. In an article entitled “Closing the RCN’s Mine Countermeasure Capability Gap,” we learn how, as a compromise build, the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels have never lived up to their full potential in terms of mine countermeasures and about possibilities to strengthen the capability in the future.

In another article, we take a voyage with Roger Litwiller on HMCS Harry DeWolf as the ship makes a historic first voyage through the Welland Canal. We also include a piece entitled “The Death of Public Awareness” that draws a line connecting the decision to cancel the Strategic Defence Forum with the lack of Canadian public awareness about the navy (and the CAF in general). And in his column, Dave Perry tells us that, at last, defence spending is increasing.  

We can’t possibly mention everything in this preview. Let’s just say that there are some very interesting pieces in Making Waves. As a sample, there is a commentary about how Canada/the RCN could be helping African countries address oil bunkering at sea, another commentary that discusses some of the challenges the Arctic Council is facing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and a commentary that suggests Canada should leave NATO and focus on the defence of North America.  

Of course there are book reviews and stunning photos to illustrate everything! You will not be able to put this issue down once you start reading! See the Table of Contents below. Table of Contents here.

CNR resources

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Read more: CNR Archives (60+ magazines in PDF) and Subject Index (600+ articles)

Looking for Books about Maritime Matters?

Over the last 20 years, Canadian Naval Review has published over 180 book reviews. These books cover a variety of topics but they all relate to maritime matters, history, or security and defence at sea. This is an amazing resource. Go through the list of reviews, pick out a few books that look interesting, read the reviews, and then order the books from your nearest bookstore or from the publisher. See the list of book reviews at https://www.navalreview.ca/book-reviews/