Vanguard Magazine

its adaptability for armaments and special- ized equipment. While these submarines can be outfitted with a full array of tor- pedoes, surface-to-air, and surface-to-sur- face missiles, some of the forward launch tubes can be replaced with a much larger opening Saab calls a multi-mission portal. Accessed from inside like an air-lock, this portal would be sizeable enough to ac- commodate a dive team or an autonomous vehicle, which could then exit and re-enter the submarine while it is submerged. Such a portal is integral to participating in what Hedin described as seabed warfare, consisting of operations conducted on or near the ocean floor. In addition to keeping an eye on infrastructure such as pipelines or communications lines, submarines could also take advantage of dedicated equipment put in place for military purposes. When asked about such systems, Swedish mili- tary officials were coy, but Saab represen- tatives and others have been candid about the prospects of installing seabed systems in the Canadian Arctic, servicing long range, uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) to patrol beneath the ice. Saab Canada President Simon Carroll pointed to the pace of this technology's progress, challenging the necessity of risk- ing crewed vessels under Arctic ice when volume of supplies required for these people, not to mention a likely improve- ment in their on-board quality of life. As for the demonstrated performance of AIP on longer ocean voyages, Koc- kums Stirling engines were a defining feature of Japan's large Soryu-class sub- marines, which were introduced in 2009. With a beam of more than nine metres, a length of 84 metres, and displacement of more than 4,000 tons, a Canadian Forces College paper by Lieutenant Command- er Iain Meredith cites claims these vessels can remain submerged for at least 40 days and have a range of more than 11,000 kilometres while being powered by AIP. Saab regularly maintains and upgrades its existing submarines by cutting the hull into sections, then reattaching them later. The A26's construction started with this approach, and the larger dimensions of the C71 are simply based on expanding the size and number of these sections. This modularity means any special fea- tures Canada might want to include in its version of the C71 can be incorporated into these sections before any assembly begins, as could any additional features years later during scheduled maintenance. In this regard, perhaps the most in- triguing aspect of the A26 and the C71 is Saab Canada President Simon Carroll pointed to the pace of this technology's progress, challenging the necessity of risking crewed vessels under Arctic ice when the same level of reconnaissance will ultimately be possible with UUVs. C 71 As for where this new fleet of Canadian submarines might be built, Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson referred to lessons learned from its experience of trying to sell his company's fighter jets to this country. 30 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024 www.vanguardcanada.com the same level of reconnaissance will ul- timately be possible with UUVs. Should Canada take this approach to maintaining its presence in this region, the C71 multi- mission portal would then become a cru- cial element in servicing a distinct fleet of these smaller craft, adding an entirely new dimension to the country's undersea naval operations. Here, too, Saab is already develop- ing such craft, along with the software to guide them accurately and securely. Known as Autonomous Ocean Core, this open-system programming is to be adapt- ed to almost any kind of independently operating surface or underwater vehicle, providing a common platform for opera- tors to integrate navigation, sensors, weap- ons, and other functions they might want to assign to a UUV operating along the Arctic coastline. As for where this new fleet of Canadian submarines might be built, Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson referred to lessons learned from its experience of try- ing to sell his company's fighter jets to this country. In particular, he pointed to the need for Saab's products to be interoper- able with Canada's, something that Swe- den's newly acquired NATO membership will ensure.

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