Royal Canadian Navy Laying Groundwork for New Submarines to Replace Victoria-Class

Naval planners have started to lay the groundwork for the possible replacement of the country’s second-hand, glitch-prone Victoria-class submarines, arguing such warships are a necessary part of Canada’s arsenal.

Planners say the country will likely need bigger, quieter boats that can perform stealth missions, launch undersea robots and fire guided missiles at shore targets.

A nine-page briefing note for the country’s top military commander last year sets out the justification for keeping a submarine capability, and comes at a time when the Harper government wants budget savings in both the near- and long-term.

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