Canada’s Arctic Offshore and Patrol Ships (AOPS): Their history and purpose

Abstract

In 2020 the first Canadian Arctic and Offshore Patrol ship joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the first of six such vessels being built to sustain RCN operations in the country’s Arctic Archipelago. These ships were announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2007 and, since then, have been the subject of considerable debate. Unlike anything designed for the Navy before, the ships fit awkwardly into traditional warfighting, provision, patrol, or icebreaking roles, with the result being criticism of their speed, range, and armament – culminating in widespread disagreement over their purpose and utility. This disagreement stemmed in part from uncertainty over what Arctic maritime security really looked like, and what an appropriate response might be. From armed-icebreakers to whole-of-government support ships, the AOPS evolved in lockstep with Canada’s developing Arctic policy and the military’s understanding of its role in the North. Thirteen years on from the government’s official announcement of their construction, and with the first ship finally delivered, it is easier to look back at the AOPS development and the evolution of the Arctic security dynamic underpinning it. This article is a close examination of that programme: its origins and purpose and the capabilities that the ships now provide.