RFPs for Canadian submarine upgrade are expected by end of 2023

Victoria-class submarine HMCS Windsor sails through Halifax Harbour. The submarine class is slated for modernisation. (Royal Canadian Navy)

Initial work packages under Phase 2 of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) Victoria-class submarine Modernization (VCM) project are scheduled to go out for tender.

According to a Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) official, requests for proposals (RFPs) for two VCM Phase 2 projects – flank sonar array modernisation and periscope modernisation – “are expected to be released to industry in late 2023”.

A further project for making improvements to the submarine galley is in the bid evaluation process and is almost complete. The DND official told Janes , “Contract for that work is expected to be awarded later this year.”

The RCN’s four Victoria-class submarines are completing a series of deep maintenance cycles as a way of moving towards a new operational and maintenance profile, and these docking periods present an opportunity to upgrade the boats with new equipment under the VCM project.