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WARPOWER: CANADA
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Royal Canadian Navy


Surface Combatants | Undersea Fleet

While still a capable fighting force, the modern Royal Canadian Navy features aging hulls rooted in Cold War-era design. The fleet is led by the numerous Halifax-class which includes HMCS Halifax commissioned in March of 1987. The newest hull of the group was accepted in April of 1995. The undersea fleet is a modest group of just four boats, these armed with 6 x 533mm torpedo tubes and carrying 18 Mark 48 torpedo reloads. The design is from the British Upholder-class with the first Canadian hull commissioned into active service in December of 2000 (Laid down in August of 1987). beyond this the service focuses its efforts on coastal defense and deterrence and is supported through a deep bench of auxiliaries.

The service lacks area air defense capabilities and at-sea replenishment for the interim - leaving several large holes in the operational capabilities and sustainment of the service, particularly in operations further from home base.

Fleet Strength (Total Units): 75 Hulls



Age Assessment Key


The Age Assessment Key provides a quick-reference look into the hull age values of the active fleet as a whole. New classes of units are marked as Green followed by modern in-service units in Blue. Aging units are showcased in Yellow with obsolete - or near-obsolete - units being colored Red.
New Procurement (1)
Modern Solution (0)
Requiring Attention (3)
Obsolete; Near-Obsolete (1)

By-the-Numbers


A look into the top four categories of strength involving the fighting naval assets of the nation of Canada.
Submarines
4
Surface Combatants
12
Patrol
4
Coastal Defense
12
Current Active Inventory (75)
The current active fleet inventory displays all surface and undersea combatant vessels and watercraft available to the seaborne fighting forces of the country. Active hull totals and variant model type (in yellow-orange) are all displaced as well as a visual reference, country-of-origin, and brief description of role, procurement, and capabilities.

Navy Warship image

Aging, Requires Attention
National flag image
4 hulls
Victoria (Victoria-class)
Role: Attack Sub
The entirety of Canadian undersea capabilities is encompassed through the single, four-strong Victoria-class attack boats. These are powered through a conventional diesel-electric propulsion scheme and are armed through 6 x 533mm torpedo tubes with 18 reloads available. The design is original to the British where it was known as the Upholder-class. The first hull was laid down in February 1983 though Canadian service did not begin until December 2000 with HMCS Victoria SSK876. The last boat, HMCS Chicoutimi SSK 879, was added as recently as September 2015. The group is divided between the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.
Navy Warship image

Obsolete; Near-Obsolete
National flag image
12 hulls
Halifax (Halifax-class)
Role: Frigate
At the heart of Canadian naval capabilities is the Halifax-class guided-missile frigate comprised of twelve active hulls. The group saw commissioned service begin in June of 1992 with HMCS Halifax and the last hull was added in September of 1996 with HMCS Ottawa. The ships are armed with ballistic weapons as well as missile solutions, making them ideal multi-mission platforms for Blue Water service. They displace 5,000 tons under full load and are powered through a gas-diesel arrangement. The fleet serves both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. While still-capable warships, they are rooted in Cold War-era tactics and technology.
Navy Warship image

New Procurement
National flag image
4 hulls
Harry DeWolf (Harry DeWolf-class)
Role: Offshore Patrol
The Harry DeWolf-class is the most modern addition to the Canadian Navy ranks. These are designed for Offshore Patrol service and encompass four active hulls. Armament is strictly ballistic in nature and power is through a diesel-electric propulsion scheme. Irving Shipbuilding was responsible for their construction and delivery of which the first was commissioned into RCN service in June of 2021. The last hull followed in May of 2024. The group sees service in both Atlantic and Pacific fleets.
Navy Warship image

Aging, Requires Attention
National flag image
12 hulls
Kingston (Kingston-class)
Role: Coastal Defense
The 12-strong Kingston-class is operated in the Maritime Coastal Defense role and modestly equipped with Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) armament. The class is led by HMCS Kingston, laid down in December 1994 and commissioned in September 1996 and power to the group is froma conventional diesel-electric propulsion scheme. The final hull was added in July of 1999 with HMCS Summerside being commissioned into service. The class operates with both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets for their part.
Navy Warship image

Aging, Requires Attention
National flag image
43 hulls
Auxiliaries (Auxiliaries (Various))
Role: Various
The modern Royal Canadian Navy has a decided focus on support ships through its auxiliary force comprised of powered and sailing vessels used for training, sound ranging, close-to-shore patrol, diving tender, fireboats, and tugs. Various lengths and dsiplacements are featured in this versatile supprot force designed to keep the Canadian Navy war machine afloat.


CF-18A fighter
Coast-to-Coast Coverage: Canadian Airpower
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is built upon modern technologies aimed at the challenges of the equally-modern battlefield.

RCAF Aircraft
High Mobility: Canadian Army Vehicles
Canadian ground force elements are provided key systems to enforce a mobile, rapid-response component of Canadian offensive and defensive capabilities.

Canadian Armor & Support
Bison 8x8 wheeled vehicle
HMCS Chicoutimi SSK879 submarine
From Shore-to-Shore: the RCN
The Royal Canadian Navy seeks to address shortcomings in their aging sea-going force built atop a modest submarine fleet alongside conventional surface combatants.

RCN Navy Fleet
ISR: Canadian Drone Force
Canadian drone force capabilities are currently restricted to Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance solutions to support ground forces in real-time.

Canadian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Insitu RQ-21 drone
Canadian officer shoulder patch in detail
Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Canadian Military Ranks
Canada follows the Western approach to its organization of three major branches of service: Air Force, Army, and Navy.

Canadian Military Ranks
Proven Pedigree: Canadian Manpower
Canada fields one of the most-capable fighting forces on the planet.

Canadian Military Manpower
Canadian soldiers undertaking beachlanding exercise
Collection of military and national flags image
Strength in Numbers: GFP 2025 Report
The annual GlobalFirepower.com defense review places Canadian fighting strength in the Top 30, ahead of Singapore and behind Sweden.

Canadian GFP Annual Report
Goods and Services: Canadian Primary Industries
Canada is an industry leader in rich minerals, petroleum production, and energy production.

Canada Primary Industries
Canadian national industries report graphic
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