Vanguard Magazine

26 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024 www.vanguardcanada.com Sponsored Content PERSPECTIVE ENSURING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF rine support under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC). Babcock's team combines the best of Canadian talent and in-country expertise with deep global submarine sustainment knowledge and ex- perience from their operations supporting NATO allied countries. With proficiency in through-life support, design support, refits, and life-extensions, coupled with their extensive industry base of specialists and support teams from coast-to-coast, Babcock brings a deep understanding of defence engineering to Canada's subma- rine sustainment enterprise. As the VISSC's Prime contractor, Bab- cock has worked side-by-side with the Canadian Government and its partners to deliver the only industry-led submarine in- service support program in Canada. The Victoria Class fleet nominally operates a cycle consisting of nine years, supported throughout by short maintenance periods. Following this nine-year period, each sub- marine enters a deep maintenance & refit period, lasting a minimum of three years, depending on the material state and up- grade requirements. Since the VISSC's in- ception in 2008, Babcock has led three of these deep maintenance and refit periods, commonly referred to as Extended Dock- ing Work Periods (EDWPs); on HMCS Chicoutimi, HMCS Corner brook, and currently HMCS Victoria. With each EDWP, Babcock has adapted to new challenges and leveraged experience and lessons learned from past activities. When the Victoria Class first arrived in Canada, all four submarines were fitted with a legacy British Combat Manage- ment System, capable of firing Tigerfish torpedoes, Sub-Harpoon missiles, and laying undersea mines. Over the course of the VISSC, Babcock installed a new Sub- marine Fire Control System and modified its proprietary Weapons Handling and Discharge System (WHDS) to support the RCN's Heavyweight Torpedo Upgrade project and the use of the new Mk48 Mod S ubmarines are among the world's most highly complex engineering assets, fulfilling strategic missions that cannot be performed by any other vessel. Through their formidable, versa- tile, and discreet ability to project national power, submarines provide an advantage as a strategic force multiplier. Their pres- ence alone can intimidate opposing forces or dissuade them from acting altogether. Navies around the world do incredible work with submarines, operating them in demanding and extreme environments. To ensure both the safety of the crews and the vessels' effectiveness, submarines require specialized engineering disciplines, platform expertise, and exceptional proj- ect management methodologies, all sup- ported by a robust supply chain. For over 16 years, Babcock Canada (Babcock) has been a long-standing part- ner of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as Canada's undisputed leader in subma- CANADA'S SUBMARINE SUSTAINMENT ENTERPRISE

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