“RCN” – Page 2 – Blazingcatfur

David Oliver: Mark Carney’s European submarine hunt

Mark Carney’s visit Tuesday to the shipyard of ThyseenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel Germany, confirmed it and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Co. as the two leading bidders to fulfil the requirement of 12 submarines under Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

Carney’s visit to Ukraine, Poland and Germany comes as Canada seeks to signal its intent to rebuild an atrophied set or defence assets and defence industrial base. It also signals Canada’s desire for strategic autonomy from the U.S. as it builds hard and soft power links with other western allies.

by Blazingcatfur•August 28, 2025August 27, 2025•0•"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCN", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

Canada narrows choices for new submarines to German and South Korean bidders

As he delivered the hard sell pitch last spring for Canada to buy his submarines, Oliver Burkhard, the CEO of Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), used the phrase “strategic partnership” half a dozen times.

Canada would be part of “a family,” he said.

We will — perhaps — soon get a better sense whether that approach is music to the ears of Prime Minister Mark Carney and key members of his cabinet.

Gotta admit the Germans have practical experience.

by Blazingcatfur•August 26, 2025August 26, 2025•0•"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCN", Canada

Canada deploys explosive drone boat in first proof of ‘new operational concept’ for navy

The Royal Canadian Navy is experimenting with explosive-packed drone boats, turning lessons learned from Ukraine’s war with Russia into a “new operational concept” for Canada’s maritime forces.

The first test of the concept came during a multinational naval exercise that concluded earlier this month off the west coast of Vancouver Island, where one explosive-laden vessel was driven into another uncrewed boat and detonated.

The drone boats, known officially as Hammerhead uncrewed surface vessels, are typically used by the navy as remote-controlled targets to mimic small speedboat attacks on larger ships.

by Blazingcatfur•July 15, 2025July 15, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada, WTF?

REMPEL: Carney’s defence plan signals a shift, but real capability is years away

Mark Carney recently announced his government’s intention to increase defence spending by more than $9 billion in order to “rebuild, rearm and reinvest” in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF.) The government declared that this positions Canada to meet the target of spending two percent of GDP on defence this year. The prime minister further promised that: “We will rapidly procure new equipment and technology… Canada will seize this opportunity with urgency and determination.”

by Blazingcatfur•June 20, 2025June 19, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

Lack of working Cyclones frustrates Canada’s top sailor: ‘The helicopter has been letting us down’

Canada’s top sailor is so fed up with the dearth of Cyclone helicopters available to fly off this country’s warships, he’ll replace them with drones if he must.

The fleet of 26 CH-148 helicopters was grounded for most of last month due to spare parts problems. And, as of Thursday, only three of the choppers were available to fly off the country’s warships as the problems persist.

3 are working? That’s a record isn’t it?

by Blazingcatfur•June 19, 2025June 19, 2025•0•"RCN"

German, Norwegian officials urge Canada to join ‘familiar family’ in buying new submarines

Senior German and Norwegian defence officials say they’re confident Canada will sign on to the ReArm Europe plan in the coming weeks and such a move will make it easier for the Liberal government to buy new submarines from allies.

Jasper Wieck, the political director of the German Ministry of Defence, and Norway’s program director of submarines, Capt. (N) Oystein Storebo, spoke with CBC News recently about the pitch for Canada to join their existing partnership, in which the two nations are constructing cutting-edge boats that will begin to enter service in 2028.

No mention by Carney of NATO’s upcoming demand for a 3.5% members spend: Nato will force Britain to spend 3.5pc on defence

by Blazingcatfur•June 4, 2025June 4, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, NATO

Why Canadian military’s Cyclone helicopters were grounded for 27 days in May

The Canadian military’s Cyclone helicopters weren’t flying for 27 days in May due to a lack of spare parts, and only one of them is now able to take to the skies.

Canada has 26 of the ship-borne maritime helicopters, with a final one slated for delivery this year. The $5.8-billion fleet is normally used to provide air support for the Royal Canadian Navy. Their missions include surface and subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare.

by Blazingcatfur•June 1, 2025June 1, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada, WTF?

Mould found in only half of the Royal Canadian Navy’s frigates

Mould has been discovered in nearly half of the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 frigates.

Cheryl Forrest, who speaks for National Defence, confirmed that mould has been found in five frigates, the most recent on HMCS Vancouver this year.

“Small amounts of mould have been reported in two areas of high humidity on HMCS Vancouver recently and were quickly removed and the areas cleaned,” Forrest said in an email. “This also resulted in enhanced inspections of similar areas of concern on the ship with no other mould areas reported.”

by Blazingcatfur•April 30, 2025April 30, 2025•0•"RCN"

Why is the naval destroyer program wrapped in secrecy? The F-35 saga offers insights

The Canadian shipyard building the navy’s new destroyers and the British defence contractor responsible for the basic design recently signed a collaboration contract, marking the next step forward in the multibillion-dollar program that the federal government has largely wrapped in secrecy.

Much of the program’s plans and costs remain shrouded in mystery and obfuscation — including precisely how much each of the first three warships will cost.

by Blazingcatfur•March 19, 2025March 19, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada

Ottawa inks initial contract for new River-class destroyers with Irving

OTTAWA – The federal Liberal government signed an initial deal with Irving Shipbuilding for the Royal Canadian Navy’s new River-class destroyers.

The implementation contract is worth $8 billion for the first six years and only covers part of the tab for the first three ships — which will eventually cost $22.2 billion.

Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee hailed it as a major step forward for the project meant to replace the Navy’s aging destroyers.

Irving? Good choice.

Leaks, ineffective anchors, mechanical breakdowns among ongoing problems facing new Arctic patrol ships

by Blazingcatfur•March 9, 2025March 8, 2025•0•"RCN"

Opening of Arctic naval refuelling facility in limbo, DND acknowledges

The opening of a Canadian naval refuelling facility in the Arctic scheduled for later this year now appears to be in limbo.

The Nanisivik Naval Facility was announced in 2007 by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a new docking and refuelling installation that would support Royal Canadian Navy ships in Arctic operations. It was envisioned as operating year-round with a deep water port and airstrip to boost Canadian sovereignty in the region.

WTF??

by Blazingcatfur•February 26, 2025February 25, 2025•0•"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCN", Canada, WTF?

Germany and Norway offer Canada early access to new submarines in pitch to join project

A joint German-Norwegian project to build new diesel-electric submarines is pitching Canada to join the program, with one of the selling points being that Ottawa would get early access to a boat on the initial production line so it could meet targets for acquiring these new vessels.

In September, Canada formally began looking for up to 12 new under-ice capable submarines, as part of an effort to demonstrate to NATO members that Ottawa is boosting defence spending.

by Blazingcatfur•February 17, 2025February 17, 2025•0•"RCN", Canada

Canada’s military presence in the Arctic ‘will soon reach a “rust-out” stage’ report warns

OTTAWA — The Canadian military’s infrastructure in the Arctic is “limited and deteriorating” and will soon reach a “rust-out” stage unless action is taken to stop it from getting worse, according to a new first-of-its-kind evaluation of the armed forces’ operations in the region.

The report from the Department of National Defence raises concerns about a lack of strategic direction for the military in the Arctic that could hamper future planning. It describes shortages of personnel and resources that require the Canadian Armed Forces to rely heavily on contractors for planes and over-the-snow vehicles for its largest annual exercise in the region. It also highlights how aging northern radar stations leave gaps for detecting potential threats that aren’t set to be addressed until new infrastructure is ready in the early 2030s.

by Blazingcatfur•November 28, 2024November 28, 2024•0•"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", "RCN", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

Canada’s top sailor says he’s sure we could stop Russia or China from trespassing in Arctic

Canada’s top sailor says he’s confident our navy can stop Russia or China if they send ships through the strategically vital Northwest Passage without asking for permission.

“We wouldn’t need the allies to come to our aid. We could deal with it ourselves,” said Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee.

“We have the capacity to deploy our ships up there right now to stop them.”

by Blazingcatfur•November 26, 2024November 25, 2024•0•"RCN"

Navy to replace official Heart of Oak march with ‘more inclusive’ music

The Royal Canadian Navy plans to replace its official march with a new composition after deciding the lyrics, which celebrate British military victories in the colonial era and sing of men but not women, are disrespectful and outdated.

Heart of Oak, which is inherited from Britain and dates back to 1759, before Canada’s Confederation, is played at Royal Canadian Navy parades and mess dinners.

I’m going to practice my Chinese.

by Blazingcatfur•November 22, 2024November 22, 2024•0•"Peak Woke", "RCN"