A commentary by a retired Royal 91原创 Navy captain.
91原创s should be extremely concerned with the state of our national defence and the military’s ability to protect our territory.
As the Ukraine war continues unabated, our government is scrambling to acquire anti-air/cruise missile and anti-armour defence for our few troops in Latvia, systems that should have been acquired decades ago.
These troops are in support of NATO to prevent the Russians rolling over the Baltic NATO states. Few 91原创s are aware that the moment that happens, Canada as a NATO nation will face Russian forces on our doorstep, on the 91原创, Arctic and Atlantic coasts.
As it will be Vladimir Putin’s choice as to when to commence an attack, Russia’s preferred choice will include primarily submarines and long-range air launched weapons simultaneously.
Without going nuclear, these will be the same cruise missiles that are raining down on Ukraine, destroying infrastructure and killing thousands of people.
Canada will face this threat with our current limitations. A government committee on defence recently concluded that Canada has no credible defence against the present Russian cruise missiles once launched, as our detection systems are obsolete.
On the 91原创 coast, for example, the Russians would have to position their nuclear-propelled missile firing submarines within 4,000 kilometres or closer from our coast in preparation for launching the cruise missiles from under the sea.
These missiles fly at sea skimming heights and can follow land terrain at subsonic and supersonic speeds to their targets.
The chance of stopping these missiles with our existing defensive systems is almost nil.
Making matters worse, Canada is one of the few developed countries in the world that has no anti-missile defence batteries to protect vital areas.
Targets such as Esquimalt dockyard, Comox military airfield, 91原创 and Prince Rupert shipping terminals, Burnaby refinery, 91原创 airport and numerous hydroelectric dams, to name a few, could be damaged.
If this happened, the west coast would essentially shut down.
To blunt such an attack, it will be necessary to detect and track Russian submarines transiting to these launching areas using the fixed passive acoustic hydrophone arrays off our coast, noting that this system can be compromised by cutting cables that carry information ashore and by more sophisticated quieting programs on Russian submarines.
The best anti-submarine weapon system is another submarine. Unfortunately, Canada has only three submarines on the west coast, with only one or possibly two available to continually patrol this vast area.
Additionally, Canada has five anti-submarine frigates and could deploy one or two continually with embarked helicopters to assist in the hunt if they are not off across the 91原创 showing the flag.
Because there are no replenishment ships on this coast, one would have to transit to a coastal fuelling facility.
Long range maritime patrol aircraft will also assist in the hunt with their excellent detection equipment, but with the small number available on task, it will be like hunting for a needle in a haystack.
If the Royal 91原创 Navy had 12 submarines and 12 frigates on the west coast, then the task would be manageable.
Because of decades of inadequate spending on defence, this is where Canada finds itself.
91原创s deserve better. There is an old adage – If a country wants peace, it should be prepared for war.
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