Vanguard Magazine

20 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com Additionally, DGNFD ensures the RCN's capital program is also designed to maintain the combat relevancy and ef- fectiveness of existing platforms, includ- ing the Victoria, Kingston, and Halifax Classes. Finally, DGNFD makes certain that shore-based infrastructure to support the Fleet – from jetties to school-houses – is appropriately identified, planned and coordinated. DGNFD is also accountable for the RCN Capital Programme Coordination, project directorship of naval capital equip- ment acquisition projects, and providing sponsorship of infrastructure projects. DGNFD is assisted by the Director of Naval Requirements (DNR), Director of Naval Strategy (DNS), Director of Naval Infrastructure Requirements (DNIR), and the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre (CFMWC). As part of the larger CAF Force De- velopment team we work carefully, at all levels, with both Chief of Force Develop- ment and Chief of Programme to ensure that our programme of work supports and enhances the overall CAF programme. In addition to these stakeholders, I interact frequently with the other Commodores/ Brigadier-Generals working in Force De- velopment for their respective services/L1 organizations (we refer to ourselves as the FD Scrum) to share best practices, ideas, and ensure that we're aligned. Q What do you see as the key capability challenges facing the RCN in the future? With the return of great power competi- tion, the global security environment is rapidly evolving. However, these challenges have largely been foreseen by our Force Development activity of the past decade, and the RCN is taking delivery of a full spectrum of major and minor capabilities (e.g. Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade, Naval Remote Weapon Station, Multi-Role Boat, Route Survey System Life Extension, etc.) to meet these evolving threats. Due to the open architectures inherent in many of these new capability elements, we are also well positioned to adapt the lessons of our operational analysis, modelling & simula- tion, and operational trials teams to meet these new challenges as they evolve. That said, there are always future chal- lenges to focus on and we are doing that within Naval Force Development. I believe that the Future Fleet of modernized Vic- toria-class submarines, Canadian Surface Combatants, Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, and Protecteur- class Joint Support Ships will fight in a dif- ferent environment than today. These ships will need to engage with an increasing array of digital, software-defined, and data-cen- tric systems. The operation, management, and support of these highly integrated systems will require real-time integrated support from shore as well as a training ap- proach that reflects this new environment. We especially need to create an infrastruc- ture that permits the future fleet to adapt to change in near real time, incorporate les- sons learned, update tactics, techniques, & procedures, and continue the fight in a De- nied, Degraded, Intermittent, or Limited communications environment. As the technologies mature and evolve, the RCN is anticipating the gradual in- troduction of remotely piloted vehicles and autonomous vehicles, above, on, and below the surface of the ocean. These ve- hicles will be well-suited for a range of tasks that will extend a commander's situational awareness and potentially contribute to the expansion of assigned areas of responsibil- ity. I believe that remotely piloted systems will eventually comprise an essential com- ponent of a joint force's inventory of intel- ligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting assets performing tasks in high- risk environments and delivering effects in roles that are "dull, dirty, or dangerous". Q Canada's Defence Policy - Strong, Secure, Engaged - has been in place since 2017, how would you describe the RCN's progression towards the goal of "meet- ing the anticipated defence and secu- rity challenges of the coming decades. Principal among the challenges at home is the need to operate in the Arctic, alongside the Canadian Coast Guard, and alongside allied partners…"? As the world continues to change, often in unpredictable ways, the RCN is also evolv- ing. Strong, Secure, Engaged highlighted key security trends that are likely to shape events in the future: the evolving balance of power, the changing nature of conflict, and the rapid evolution of technology. In confronting the threats and challenges that will arise in the future, the RCN requires a Blue Water Navy with a balanced mix of platforms, including submarines, surface combatants, support ships, and patrol ves- sels. The navy will be structured around the ability to deploy and sustain a Naval Task Group, one that is highly interoperable with allies, that contributes meaningfully to joint action ashore, and that supports the sustainment of joint operations from sea. To support that goal, the RCN is in the midst of the most rigorous and compre- hensive period of fleet modernization and renewal in its peacetime history, touching upon all elements of the fleet. The RCN is undertaking this recapitalization while simultaneously preparing for the expan- sion of missions through a new and en- during sphere of operations on our 3rd ocean. This hive of activity is set against a background of intense existing fleet activ- ity on our other two oceans and overseas. These include persistent single ship inter- national deployments, global engagement in Africa, Europe, and South America, op- erations in South-East Asia, routine conti- nental defence patrols, and work with our other government department partners. Over the last decade, we modernized the Halifax-class, incrementally updated the Kingston-class including new route survey payloads, progressed a project to modern- ize the Victoria-class, and are building a new class of Naval Large Tugs. We recent- ly accepted the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), Harry DeWolf, on 31 July 2020, in Halifax. This is the first warship to be delivered as part of the Na- tional Shipbuilding Strategy and signifies the start of a long and exciting road for the RCN with many more ships to come as part of our future fleet. The Harry DeWolf-class of ships is well suited for its primary mission of conduct- ing armed sea-borne presence and surveil- lance missions along Canada's maritime ap- proaches, including the Arctic, leveraging state-of-the-art technology to know who is operating in our waters and to be prepared interview Rendering of the Harry DeWolf-class vessel - View starboard side forward at sea.Photo: Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

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