Days ago, Canada’s Department of National Defence announced that the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarines will be equipped with new digital periscopes as part of a technological modernization program aimed at extending their operational service life. The initiative forms part of a broader upgrade project designed to enhance the surveillance, intelligence-gathering, and reconnaissance capabilities of the submarines that make up the class.
As part of this process, the Canadian government awarded a contract valued at CAD 118 million (excluding taxes) to Safran Trusted 4D Canada Inc. for the supply of the new digital optronic systems. The agreement also includes initial in-service support, training services for operation and maintenance, as well as the provision of onboard spare parts and test equipment. According to official statements, the technical improvements introduced by the new periscopes will significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Installation of the new systems is scheduled to begin in 2030 and is expected to be completed by late 2033, following the testing of the first modernized unit. In-service support will take effect after the completion of initial class trials, enabling the consolidation of the new equipment’s integration across the submarine fleet.
The Victoria-class submarines form the core of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) underwater surveillance capabilities. Acquired from the United Kingdom in 1998 and delivered between 2000 and 2004, the class comprises four submarines: HMCS Victoria, HMCS Windsor, HMCS Corner Brook, and HMCS Chicoutimi. The latter was formally commissioned in 2015 after suffering a fire in 2004 that required extensive repairs before achieving full operational capability.
The modernization is being carried out under the Victoria-Class Modernization (VCM) project, which includes 12 equipment upgrade initiatives. Nine of these projects are currently in the implementation phase, while three remain in the definition stage. The integration and installation of the new systems are primarily managed through the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC), a long-term agreement with Canadian industry.
Among the technologies considered in the upgrade is the Series 30 SOM optronic system, whose primary functions include navigation safety and intelligence gathering. In addition to advanced surface search capabilities, the system can operate as an automatic air warning sensor, employ a laser, receive air communications and GPS signals, and integrate an electronic support measures (ESM) sensor, thereby expanding the submarines’ operational scope across different scenarios.
This modernization program is taking place in parallel with planning for the future replacement of the Victoria-class submarines during the next decade. Ottawa has initiated consultations with the international naval industry regarding the acquisition of twelve (12) new attack submarines, aiming to avoid a capability gap and ensure that the first new unit is available no later than 2035, amid the growing strategic importance of the Arctic.
Currently, among the proposals received and under evaluation by Canadian defense authorities, two stand out: one supported by Germany and Norway, based on the new-generation Type 212CD submarines developed by TKMS and destined for both countries’ navies; and another from Asia, backed by South Korea in support of Hanwha Ocean’s KSS-III submarines, which are already in service with the Republic of Korea Navy.
Images obtained from Canada’s Department of National Defence.
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