Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024 27 Sponsored Content 7AT torpedoes, a torpedo with signifi- cantly improved detection, homing, and re-attack capabilities. The modifications to the WHDS by Babcock enhanced its safety; decreasing the risk of inadvertently flooding a torpedo tube and achieving sys- tem states that are less reliant on opera- tors. Babcock's improved WHDS has been implemented on all four Victoria Class submarines as part of their EDWPs. HMCS Corner Brook was also first in the class to see the installation and integration of a Universal Modular Mast (UMM) capa- bility. The UMM may be fitted with a va- riety of mission-specific payloads, including two antennas; a Sub High Data Rate An- tenna, which allows the submarine to have advanced satellite communication, and a Communications Intercept Antenna, that supports the vessel's communications intel- ligence capabilities. To accommodate the UMM, a significant amount of structural engineering and modifications were nec- essary to adapt the submarine's fin for this new capability. With the UMM installed and tested, the C4ISR capabilities of the platform have been significantly enhanced. As each EDWP took place, Babcock's platform knowledge and expertise in- creased, and lessons learned began to spread beyond the EDWP execution. Bab- cock's engineers, technologists, project managers, and specialty teams have devel- oped several new capabilities and industry best practices that have all contributed to enhanced capability of the vessels and the broader submarine sustainment enterprise. These improvements were all designed to maintain operational capability, address obsolescence challenges, extend the plat- form's life, and improve service delivery. The Victoria Class submarines also saw the introduction of the Submarine Safety Program (SUBSAFE). SUBSAFE was originally introduced by the United States Navy to provide assurance that a subma- rine could recover from a flooding emer- gency. In Canada, the program is delivered by the RCN and provides a holistic risk management system that evaluates hazards to personnel, materiel, and readiness. At Babcock, safety is paramount as underlined by their commitment to ensure everybody goes home safe everyday. The vessel's de- sign, physical work completed on board, and advice to the customer can all have a significant impact on the submarine's abil- ity to operate at sea and keep submariners safe. Babcock works closely with the RCN to ensure all equipment and materials on- board meet the SUBSAFE requirements. Throughout the VISSC, Babcock has successfully transitioned significant ele- ments of the submarine supply chain from overseas into Canada. This has delivered significant economic benefit to the Ca- nadian economy and at the same time, helped to establish and grow Canada's sovereign submarine sustainment capabil- ity. Babcock is proud to have led the de- velopment of a vast network of over 450 suppliers from coast-to-coast, and to-date, has invested over $200 million in small- and medium sized business across Canada. Babcock's Canadian operations also sup- port over 2,000 jobs annually, 1,249 of which are highly skilled. By actively growing Canada's workforce, prioritizing skills development, and cham- pioning research and development initia- tives, Babcock is ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Can- ada's submarine sustainment enterprise. These commitments have culminated in a $3 billion impact on Canada's GDP. The specialized submarine supply chain and highly skilled engineering delivered through the VISSC, provides Canada an essential capability in maintaining a key strategic asset in the Canadian Armed Forces arsenal. As Canada begins to bridge from the Victoria Class submarines to a larger and even more technologically ad- vanced class, the maintenance and growth of the existing industrial base will be essen- tial to ensure operational capability and the defence of North America. A new fleet will require the repatriation of supply chains from the original equipment manufacturer nation to Canada, expansion of current industrial capacities, and development of new submarine infrastructure. The Victo- ria Class is planned to operate deep into the 2030's and Babcock will continue to learn and adapt to new challenges ensur- ing the class remains safe, capable and ready to answer Canada's call. This will also ensure Canada's industrial base retains a strong and capable foundation, ready to support any future submarine fleet. Over the course of the VISSC, Babcock has proven itself as the nation's leader in submarine in-service support. As the gov- ernment looks towards the Canadian Pa- trol Submarine Project, Babcock stands ready to leverage their extensive in-service support expertise, platform knowledge, and robust industrial base to provide first- in-class maintenance, repair and overhaul that will deliver safe, effective, and highly- capable submarines to Canada for decades to come. PERSPECTIVE

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