Understanding Canada's Submarine Capabilities: Are they essential to Canada’s defence policy?

Abstract

Canada’s latest class of submarines are no stranger to the delays, controversies, and criticisms of defence procurement in this country; the ones that surround both the acquisition and the operational history of the Victoria class submarines have prompted castigators to argue that the Canadian government should discard the current fleet. To be clear, the purpose of this paper isnot to question the strategic value of submarines. However, the strategic asset rationale, though militarily irrefutable, may not be adequate enough to justify acquisition, especially under the new guidelines of the Defence Procurement Strategy. Given the shift in military planning theory and the increased financial constraints imposed upon the Canadian Armed Forces’ procurement process, I posit that a case built through a capability-based planning lens deeming submarines to be an essential capability must be established if the Royal Canadian Navy seeks to maintain this capability. This paper is an exploration of whether that case can in fact be built.