The agreement covers the delivery of digital periscopes, initial in-service support, training for operation and maintenance, and onboard spare parts and testing equipment. The upgraded systems are intended to significantly enhance the Royal Canadian Navy’s ability to conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Installation of the new periscopes is scheduled to begin in 2030 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2033. In-service support will commence once first-of-class trials have been completed.
Canada’s four Victoria-class submarines form the core of the Royal Canadian Navy’s underwater surveillance capability. Designed to operate covertly and patrol vast distances, the submarines support maritime law enforcement in investigating narcotics trafficking, smuggling and pollution cases, as well as undertaking domestic and international operations.
The submarines were purchased from the British Government in 1998 and delivered to Canada between 2000 and 2004. Victoria, Windsor and Corner Brook were commissioned into service shortly after arrival, while Chicoutimi entered service in 2015 following a fire in 2004 and subsequent repair work.
Through the VCM project, the submarines are being upgraded to enable continued operations into the mid-to-late 2030s. The programme currently comprises 12 separate equipment upgrade projects, with nine in the implementation phase and three in the definition phase.
Most equipment acquisition and in-service support arrangements are managed through separate contracts. Platform integration and installation work is primarily overseen under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract, a long-term agreement with Canadian industry.
