CHALLENGES
UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
CANADA'S ARCTIC SOVEREIGNTY IS LINKED
CLOSELY TO ITS ABILITY TO MONITOR,
CONTROL, AND RESPOND TO UNDERWATER
ACTIVITY IN THE POLAR WATERS THAT
COMPRISE THE CANADIAN ARCTIC
ARCHIPELAGO (CAA) AND ITS APPROACHES
(BEAUFORT SEA, LABRADOR SEA, BAFFIN
BAY, HUDSON, AND DAVIS STRAITS.)
H
owever, maritime opera-
tions in high latitudes are
more difficult than similar
undertakings south of the
60th parallel, particularly for
submarines, both ally and adversary. The
next few paragraphs will touch upon some
of the impediments to sub-surface vessel
operations in the Arctic and, by extension,
the challenge of underwater surveillance
activities in the North.
The Arctic Environment
For those who have never had the oppor-
tunity to work in the north it is difficult to
comprehend the vastness and the remote-
ness of the area. The label "Arctic" paints
a picture for many of a bleak, homogenous
18 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025 www.vanguardcanada.com
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