In a coastal town in southeast Sweden, the future of underwater military operations is taking shape. Saab, a prominent defense firm, is positioning its C71 ‘Expeditionary’ submarine as a contender in the Royal Canadian Navy’s ambitious program to refresh its sub-surface fleet. With the potential of a $60 billion deal for up to 12 submarines, Saab aims to leverage its century-long heritage of maritime innovation to secure a lucrative contract.
At the heart of the discussion is Canada’s need for submarines capable of navigating the extensive ranges of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reaching into the Arctic, and operating autonomously for weeks. Saab’s C71 design, currently in an advanced stage, boasts an 80-meter length, eight-meter diameter, and a displacement of 3,300 tons, significantly larger than the A26 from which it evolved.
Simon Carroll, president of Saab Canada, emphasized the stakes involved, noting, “If you think fighters are political, submarines take it to another level.” This echoes Saab’s previous experience in global defense contracts where politics played a decisive role, such as when various European countries opted for the American F-35 over Saab’s Gripen fighter jet.
Per-Ola Hedin, Saab’s chief engineer for the A26, highlights the C71’s capability to accommodate a standard crew of 30 and an additional complement of 15, catering to special operations or intelligence needs. Furthermore, the submarine’s multi-mission portal is designed to adapt to a diverse range of operations, future-proofing the vessel for emerging requirements.
Saab’s emphasis on rigorous shock testing—subjecting vessels to combat-like forces—is presented as a unique selling proposition, demonstrating their commitment to durability and resilience in naval technology. However, whether the C71 will undergo such testing is contingent on customer requirements.
The broader strategic considerations cannot be overlooked. Canada’s partnership with the United States and the interoperability between their military assets are crucial factors. Any decision on the new submarines will reflect Canada’s defense alignments and responsibilities, particularly in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) contexts.
While Saab officials, such as Micael Johansson, have publicly expressed frustration over perceived political favoritism in international defense procurement, “I didn’t like that procurement process. We were asked to put in our offer, and then they the NATO Support and Procurement Agency didn’t really go into discussion with us, because they had already decided they had to go and buy Wedgetail, and they had to do it quickly because otherwise they wouldn’t get capability until 2032.”
The Royal Canadian Navy is considering various international collaborations for its future fleet. Bill Blair, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, conveyed a sense of urgency to move beyond the exploratory phase and take concrete steps toward acquisition. The minister’s regret over the language used in the recent Defence Policy Update, which only pledged to “explore options,” hints at a firmer commitment on the horizon.
Relevant articles:
– How Saab is betting big on its C71 ‘Expeditionary’ subs to win Canadian contest, Breaking Defense
– Canada weighing international ‘collaboration’ on future subs, Breaking Defense
– Saab and Netherlands partner to export C-71, eyeing Canada, Naval Technology