OTTAWA – Swedish defence manufacturer Saab and Canadian tech company CAE Inc. say they will work together to create training simulators for the Royal Canadian Navy’s next submarine fleet.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the initiative on Thursday, the last day of the CANSEC defence industry trade show in Ottawa.
Ottawa plans to purchase up to a dozen new conventional submarines for the RCN to replace the rapidly aging Victoria class, and has said it expects to award a contract by 2028.
Saab is a heavy equipment maker that has expertise in Arctic submarine technology, while CAE is known for its submarine detection software and naval and flight simulators.
Canada has come under heavy international pressure to spend more on defence to meet its NATO commitments.
Senior government officials have suggested that purchasing the new subs could push Canada past the NATO spending target the country has long struggled to meet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
