Saving the Kingston Class: A Strategic Case for Retention and Reinvestment in the RCN Fleet

By Ted Barnes, 4 June 2025

As the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) confronts a restructuring of its future fleet, the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) are facing early decommissioning. While challenges exist -- aging systems, tight modernization budgets and growing personnel pressures -- the decision to retire these ships outright would eliminate a proven, flexible and economical platform just when Canada needs it most. Instead, a focused strategy of partial decommissioning and targeted reinvestment would retain critical naval capabilities, support international obligations, and alleviate training and personnel development shortfalls, bridging the gap until the Continental Defence Corvette (CDC) program becomes operational.

Strategic Reach, Tactical Impact

The Kingston-class has operated far beyond its original coastal surveillance role, making significant contributions to both domestic and international operations:

• Arctic Patrols: HMCS Shawinigan reached the furthest north of any RCN vessel, reinforcing Canadian Arctic sovereignty.
• NATO Operations: Ships deployed under Operation REASSURANCE for NATO Mine Countermeasures (MCM) tasks in the Baltic and Eastern Europe.
• Operation PROJECTION: Conducted diplomatic and security patrols in West Africa and the Mediterranean.
• Domestic & Continental Missions: Deployed to the Great Lakes, Caribbean, Pacific (as far as Mexico and Hawaii), and the Western Arctic.
• Operation CARIBBE: Engaged in joint US-Canadian counter-narcotics operations, intercepting illicit trafficking and supporting multinational maritime law enforcement.

Multi-Role Payloads and Proven Adaptability

Thanks to its modular payload system, the Kingston-class has supported:

• Mine Countermeasure operations with side-scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous systems.
• Diving support and hydrographic survey tasks in complex environments.
• Humanitarian and technical recovery missions, including support for:
  • Swissair Flight 111 wreckage recovery.
  • Avro Arrow test model search efforts in Lake Ontario.
• Support for Defence Research and Development Canada and Federal Science Agencies, serving as a reliable maritime testbed for DRDC, as well as other government departments conducting scientific trials, technology validation and environmental monitoring.

Crew Optimization: The Hybrid Manning Model

To mitigate personnel shortages and maximize operational value, the retained Kingston-class vessels should adopt a hybrid crewing model that incorporates:

• Regular Force sailors for command, technical operations,and training supervision.
• Naval Reservists to provide additional capacity for deployments and domestic taskings.
• Civilian contractors for:
  • Technical support
  • Operational support
  • Engineering systems integration
  • Preventative and corrective maintenance, especially during in-port availabilities

This integrated model improves readiness, supports regional economic engagement, and preserves Regular Force capacity for high-readiness units and global deployments.

Strategic Reinvestment Plan

Rather than decommissioning the entire class, a phased modernization of six vessels ensures continued utility and cost-effective capability.

1. Decommission Six, Retain Six

Six ships would be retired and used for parts. The remaining six would form a revitalized fleet.

2. Comprehensive Modernization Package

Key upgrades would include:

• Weapons & Sensors
  • Larger-caliber main gun for improved self-defence and surface interdiction.
  • Modern mine countermeasure systems, including autonomous underwater and surface vehicles.
  • Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) surveillance systems to improve target acquisition, night operations and maritime domain awareness.
  • Anti-drone detection systems to counter unmanned aerial threats in littoral and high-traffic zones.
  • Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), chaff dispensers and MANPADS for layered defence.
• Seaboat & Handling Enhancements
  • High-capacity crane system to support rapid launch and recovery of MCM payloads and small boats.
  • Modernized seaboat launch/recovery system for improved boarding operations, search and rescue, and littoral support.
• Crew Welfare & Living Conditions
  • Fully renovated messes, galleys and communal areas to enhance morale during extended missions.
  • Refurbished sleeping quarters and heads to meet modern health and habitability standards for mixed-gender crews.

Role Allocation and Lifecycle Management

To ensure sustainability and operational value:

• Two ships should deploy annually for Operation REASSURANCE, sustaining NATO commitments in mine warfare and deterrence.
• Three ships should operate domestically for:
  • Naval Experience Program (NEP) recruit training.
  • Regular Force and Reserve force qualification sailings.
  • Port visits, public engagement and presence operations.
• One ship should be on a rolling five-year major refit cycle, ensuring modern systems integration without interrupting overall fleet availability.

Not a Job for AOPS

Some have pointed to the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) as a stopgap replacement for the Kingston-class. However, this is neither effective nor sustainable. AOPS platforms are large, complex, and expensive to operate and maintain. They were designed for Arctic sovereignty and low-threat patrol, not for high-tempo domestic training, mine warfare, or persistent coastal presence. Using AOPS for these roles diverts them from their core mission and burdens the RCN with high operational costs.

The Kingston-class, by contrast, is a low-cost, low-crew, and mission-flexible solution. Its retirement without replacement will leave a critical capability gap. In a time of expanding threats and increasing global instability, Canada needs an expanded RCN footprint, not a reduced one.

Bridging the Capability Gap Until the Continental Defence Corvette

With the Continental Defence Corvette still years away, the Kingston-class remains the only operationally deployable platform capable of delivering modular mine warfare, maritime training, interagency cooperation, and scientific support. These ships offer an immediate, low-cost solution that complements Canada's future force structure while reducing operational strain on the Halifax-class and the AOPS.

Conclusion: Mission-Ready, Cost-Efficient, Irreplaceable

The Kingston-class has delivered over two decades of dependable service across every oceanic and domestic theatre of relevance to Canadian naval policy. Rather than cast it aside prematurely, a smart, scaled investment will extend its service life and deliver unmatched return on capability.

By modernizing six vessels, adopting hybrid crewing, and equipping them with 21st-century technology -- including EO/IR systems, anti-drone sensors, improved welfare spaces, advanced seaboat systems, and leveraging civilian contractor support for maintenance and engineering -- the RCN can ensure a continued presence at sea while training the next generation, supporting NATO, and collaborating with federal partners such as DRDC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The Kingston-class may not be flashy but it’s reliable, affordable, and exactly what a balanced, deployable and resilient navy needs today. Let it serve until the Continental Defence Corvette is ready to take the watch.

Image: the MCDV HMCS BRANDON anchors in front of some dense trees during Exercise ARCTIC EDGE 22 in Juneau, Alaska on March 4, 2022. Credit: Cpl Hugo Montpetit, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Canadian Armed Forces Photo