Babcock Canada has been awarded a six-year extension to the Victoria In-Service Support Contract, continuing its role as prime contractor for the sustainment of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarine fleet, the company stated.
The extension covers what Babcock describes as the nation’s only industry-led submarine in-service support solution, and includes the potential to extend the arrangement up to the fleet’s end of life. According to the company, this would enable continuous service as Canada transitions to a new fleet of submarines. Babcock has served as Canada’s submarine sustainment partner for more than 18 years under the contract, during which it says it has developed engineering services, platform knowledge, a specialised workforce, a Canadian supply chain and a sovereign submarine sustainment capability.
Tony March, CEO of Babcock Canada, was quoted in the press release as saying: “Supporting the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy with a safe and capable submarine fleet is something Babcock is hugely proud of, and this contract extension continues our longstanding partnership and delivery of this important sovereign and strategic capability. The extension builds on our core position as Canada’s submarine sustainment partner delivering world-class support and will drive enhanced outcomes for the existing Victoria-class fleet. It will also enable Canada’s submarine sustainment enterprise to achieve a smooth transition to Canada’s future submarine capability.”
The company states that its work on the contract has contributed more than $3.2 billion in GDP impact to Canada since 2008, maintained over 1,500 jobs annually, and built a supply chain of more than 450 suppliers. Babcock adds that it has worked with Canadian universities, colleges, Indigenous communities, and small and medium-sized businesses to support skills development, training and innovation.
The Victoria-class comprises four diesel-electric submarines acquired by Canada from the United Kingdom, where they were originally built as the Upholder class before being taken out of Royal Navy service in the 1990s. The boats have formed the backbone of Canada’s submarine capability for over two decades and are due to be succeeded under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, which is intended to deliver a replacement fleet in the 2030s.
Babcock says it is positioning to support that future capability, stating that if selected as sustainment partner for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, its leadership on the current contract would ensure its workforce and supply chain are prepared and trained for the expanded fleet’s arrival. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project envisages a significantly larger force than the four boats currently in service, with Ottawa having signalled its intent to acquire up to 12 conventionally powered submarines under one of the largest defence procurements in the country’s recent history.
I noticed that UKDJ has not reported on Canada’s decision to acquire 12x Submarines from Germany in a decision two weeks ago. Unless I missed it somehow.