iDEAS Series
The iDEAS Series papers are short, policy-relevant notes providing ‘outside the box’ thinking and new ideas on questions of maritime defence and security.
This includes work produced as part of the Multi-Vision Corlette Project: Visions & Options Series. This Naval Association of Canada series is devoted to examining options for Canada’s Multi-Mission Corvette Project.
The Future of the Corvette Project Should be Uncrewed
March 2025
By Kate E. Todd
Part of the Multi-Vision Corlette Project: Visions & Options Series. This Naval Association of Canada series is devoted to examining options for Canada’s Multi-Mission Corvette Project. Support for this work is provided by the Canadian Maritime Security Network.
The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels areat the end of their lifespan and must be replaced. In 2023, the Navy stood up the Canadian Multi-mission Corvette Project to determine what should replace them. This paper offersa vision of what the Navy could procure. It argues that the Kingston class should bereplaced with upwards of twenty-four optionally crewed autonomous multi-missionvessels that are more heavily armed than their predecessors. By doing so, Canada couldleverage the new technology that is revolutionizing naval warfare and prepare itself forwhatever situations the RCN may find itself in in the future.
For Want of Frigates: Requirements for a Multi-Mission Corvette
March 2025
By Brian Santarpia
Part of the Multi-Vision Corlette Project: Visions & Options Series. This Naval Association of Canada series is devoted to examining options for Canada’s Multi-Mission Corvette Project. Support for this work is provided by the Canadian Maritime Security Network.
As Canada replaces its Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), a new fleet of light warships will be needed to both assume the MCDVs’ existing roles and provide the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with the capabilities needed to manage great power competition. This paper offers an overview of the kinds of capabilities that the RCN should prioritize in its search for a multi-mission corvette.
C2 at Sea: Embarking Modular, Scalable, and Mobile C2 Centres Aboard the AOPV
December 2024
By Kate E. Todd and Alan Lockerby
In the face of emerging threats, Canada is recapitalizing its military and modernizing the North American and Aerospace Defence Command. One component of this modernization is the creation of new Future Combined Air Operations Centre for the Royal Canadian Airforce. This article argues that these mobile air C2 nodes should be capable of operating aboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels. By doing so, the Canadian Armed Forces can fully leverage existing assets while enhancing their ability to defend Canada’s territory and interests in the Arctic.
Realizing the AOPVs’ Potential
October 2024
By Douglas L. Theedom
The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels offer Canada a capability and presence in the Arctic that it has not had since the late 1950s. While central to the country’s security and defence posture in the region, the class has room for improvements. In this article, the Operations Coordinator onboard HMCS Frédérick Rolette, PO1 Douglas Theedom offers thoughts on how to get more from Canada’s premier Arctic platform. These opinions are his own and do not represent those of the Royal Canadian Navy.
The USCG Arctic Presence Leveraging Canada’s AOPV Design
September 2024
By Adam Lajeunesse and William Woityra
The US Coast Guard (USCG) is facing a critical capability gap in the Arctic. Shipping is increasing, and foreign activity, particularly from China, is creating a new and dynamic security situation. This paper considers how the USCG could leverage Canada’s AOPV design to close that capability gap.
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