Canada is strengthening its defenses in the Arctic. The country plans to acquire up to 12 submarines and has begun negotiations with manufacturers, the Canadian Ministry of Defense said, as quoted by Reuters.
This year, Canada updated its defense policy with an emphasis on protecting the Arctic and dealing with challenges from Russia and China. The submarine order is a critical step in implementing this strategy, the defense ministry said in a statement.
Citing global warming, Canada says the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia by 2050, raising the need to strengthen maritime security.
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"As a country with the longest coastline in the world, Canada needs a new submarine fleet," noted Defense Minister Bill Blair.
After meeting with manufacturers, the ministry will issue a formal request for information in the fall on the procurement, construction, delivery and operational capabilities of potential bids.
Canada currently has a fleet of four submarines, which are already outdated and expensive to maintain. The new fleet of submarines will be conventionally powered and able to operate under the ice.