Navy Kicks Off Long Anticipated Push to Replace Canada’s Beleaguered Submarine Fleet

HMCS Windsor, one of Canada's Victoria-class long range patrol submarines, returns to port in Halifax on June 20, 2018 after completing a 5-month deployment in the Euro-Atlantic region. The submarine was on patrol as part of Operation Projection, conducting training exercises with navies and other international security partners. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

OTTAWA—The Royal Canadian Navy is launching its long-anticipated push to replace Canada’s beleaguered submarine fleet, setting the stage for what will almost certainly be an extremely controversial debate around the need for such vessels.

Defence officials revealed to The Canadian Press this month that a dedicated team is being created to start figuring out what Canada needs in new submarines as the sunset on the military’s existing fleet draws steadily closer.