Key Takeaways:
- The Royal Canadian Navy is considering the idea of an ice-capable amphibious landing ship to move troops and equipment around the country’s Arctic region.
- The concept is still in the preliminary stages, with conversations between naval planners and two Canadian shipyards: Davie Shipyard and Seaspan.
- The new defence policy and increased funding will allow the military to consider ambitious projects, including the procurement of an amphibious landing ship.
- The ship would provide the capability to deliver troops and equipment from sea to shore without prepared port infrastructure, which is essential for operations in the Far North.
- The concept of an amphibious landing ship has been discussed for over 20 years, but it has never solidified into a firm defence policy or substantial political commitment.
Introduction to the Concept
The commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, has been floating the idea of an ice-capable amphibious landing ship to move troops and equipment around the country’s Arctic region. Although he has been quick to downplay the idea, describing it as "a conceptual thing" and "a thought exercise," preliminary conversations have taken place between naval planners and two Canadian shipyards: Davie Shipyard in Lévis, Quebec, and Seaspan in Vancouver. Both shipyards are already building the Canadian Coast Guard’s new icebreaker fleet and have notional ideas and proposals that could be modified to create an all-Canadian designed-and-built landing ship for Far North operations.
The Need for an Amphibious Landing Ship
The concept of an amphibious landing ship is not new, but it has gained traction in recent years due to the country’s commitment to spending up to five per cent of its gross domestic product on defence. The influx of funding has allowed the military’s senior leaders to consider ambitious projects, including the procurement of an amphibious landing ship. The ship would provide the capability to deliver troops and equipment from sea to shore without prepared port infrastructure, which is essential for operations in the Far North. As Topshee explained, "The key value proposition of an amphibious ship is it can deliver capability from sea to shore without prepared port infrastructure, and that describes our North perfectly."
New Funding and Defence Policy
The new defence policy and increased funding will play a significant role in determining the feasibility of the amphibious landing ship concept. The federal Liberal government has committed to spending up to five per cent of its gross domestic product on defence, with a review scheduled for 2029 to ensure that the targets still align with the threats Canada is facing. The increased funding will allow the military to consider ambitious projects, including the procurement of an amphibious landing ship. As Topshee noted, the concept could feed into a defence policy review, and the new funding will provide the necessary resources to make it a reality.
International Precedents
Other allied countries are also heading in a similar direction, tying amphibious ships to their national security strategies. Australia has explicitly done so, seeing the capability as important to regional leadership and disaster response. The United Kingdom recently decommissioned its two amphibious warfare ships but is planning to construct Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) to replace them. Japan, despite domestic sensitivities, has incrementally acquired helicopter carriers, arguing they are for defensive and humanitarian purposes. These international precedents demonstrate the importance of amphibious ships in modern naval operations and provide a framework for Canada to consider its own needs and capabilities.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the potential benefits of an amphibious landing ship, there are several challenges and considerations that need to be addressed. The concept has been discussed for over 20 years, but it has never solidified into a firm defence policy or substantial political commitment. The idea has repeatedly collided with fiscal and institutional realities, and it remains to be seen whether the new defence policy and increased funding will be enough to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, the ship would need to be designed and built with the unique challenges of the Arctic environment in mind, including the need for ice-capable propulsion and robust construction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of an ice-capable amphibious landing ship is an ambitious and potentially useful idea that could provide the Royal Canadian Navy with the capability to deliver troops and equipment from sea to shore without prepared port infrastructure. While the idea is still in the preliminary stages, the new defence policy and increased funding provide a unique opportunity for the military to consider ambitious projects. As Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee noted, the concept could feed into a defence policy review, and the new funding will provide the necessary resources to make it a reality. Ultimately, the success of the project will depend on the ability of the military and the government to overcome the challenges and considerations associated with the concept and to provide a clear and committed vision for the future of the Royal Canadian Navy.