Canada, since 1982 has actively sought nuclear non-proliferation. A seismic change for Canada is that it is now actively seeking protection of a nuclear umbrella, since America has become both adversarial and threatening to Canada and its sovereignty.
Initial discussion with both the U.K. and France have been had in relation to protection from American expansionist threats. Trump’s intentions, considered ludicrous by many, must be taken seriously. When a neighbour threatens your sovereignty, repeatedly, it no longer constitutes a joke.
Canadians are not amused. We are determined to make such a possibility, impractical.
The protective agreement with the U.K and France would only last until such time as Canada accesses its own second strike capability.
Canada has been a nuclear nation since the 1940’s. Canada has sold nuclear reactors to over six other nations and continues to market its CANDU Reactors as the safest in the world.
With dozens of them in use within Canada, and with Canada having all the necessary technical, physical and material processes available to create nuclear weapons, it is now possible, some would say probable, that Canada will decide to at least develop a second strike capability.
In the past, Canada did not, and has not planned for the creation of a nuclear weapon response to attack by a foreign nation. In the past, America has through NATO promised to secure Canadian territory with its nuclear deterrent.
All that has now changed.
It is possible for Canada to develop a nuclear strike capability, within two years of a determination, based on Canada’s availability of all the necessary components to create and deliver nuclear weapons.
Canada’s determination to acquire 16=20 AIP Under Ice capable submarines to patrol Canada’s vast coastline, and their intended capability to deliver cruise missiles within a 1,500 mile range, would enable Canada to mount a modest number of nuclear second strike weapons aboard these submarines, on patrol around Canadian coastal waters.
It has been suggested, that like the French and British, Canada could employ weapons with a destructive release of between 100 and 300 kilotons, and that two options exist. One being submarines with either a vertical launch ballistic MIRV capability that includes six tubes, or a cruise missile capability with six launch tubes. The cruise missiles would have a range of 1,500 miles, while the ballistic missiles based on the French M51 design would have a range of 8,000 kilometres.
While either system is possible, the longer range M51 design would mean acquiring submarines of similar size and capability to France’s Triomphant Class, as seen below.
These considerations would have seemed to be irrational a scant ten years ago, however, due to both Russia’s actions and America’s aggression towards Canada, it is now time to act ourselves and build a deterrent force against such aggression.
It would not be the number of missiles that would pose a major deterrent, but rather the destructive EMP that would destroy an aggressor nation’s electronics and technology. A country like America would essentially become a nation turning back the clock to the 1800’s. No computers, no functional communications, no operational infrastructure in relation to electrical distribution, water supplies, sanitation, transportation, airlines, power creation, etc., etc.
Maintaining just four submarines armed with nuclear weapons would enable a delivery of 64 MIRM ballistic missiles with the ability to target 256 separate targets. Capability would be the focus, not capacity.
These submarines, although non-nuclear propulsion could remain submerged for up to 20 days, therefore enabling a guaranteed strike capability as there would always be at least two of these submarines in the ocean at any given time.
The remainder of Canada’s submarines would be attack submarines designed to provide cruise missile capable attacks on targets within a 1,500 mile range, more appropriately designed for anti-ship, anti-submarine warfare and the targeting of fixed installations on land.
Canada is taking the threat posed by both its Northern and Southern neighbours, seriously.
There is no longer any faith that America would protect Canada or Canadian interests.
This is a new geopolitical reality for Canada, and we, are up to the task.
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