At CANSEC 2023, Vard Marine Inc. (VARD), a prominent subsidiary of Fincantieri, proudly introduced VIGILANCE, its innovative solution aimed at replacing the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) aging Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV). This initiative falls under Pillar Two of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), and VARD has partnered with Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri to ensure the RCN receives a state-of-the-art, lightweight, and flexible military asset. VIGILANCE is designed to surpass the capabilities of the MCDV and Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), especially in the challenging littoral battlespace, where it is expected to play a crucial role.
The collaboration among these leading companies guarantees that the RCN’s future fleet will benefit from a naval solution that perfectly balances capability and cost, all while adhering to VARD’s reputation for delivering designs with advantageous life-cycle costs. Central to this effort is the assembly of a diverse coalition of Canadian companies that can provide essential services and equipment, ensuring that VIGILANCE is not only designed and built in Canada but also equipped with Canadian-made components.
To reinforce this commitment to Canadian industry, Team Vigilance launched its Preferred Suppliers Program at DEFSEC 2023 in Halifax, with the goal of forging strong partnerships with domestic companies. One such partnership was highlighted earlier this year, when VARD announced at a pre-CANSEC event that DEW Engineering and Development ULC (DEW) had been named a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance.
DEW, a well-established Canadian defence manufacturing company with facilities in Ottawa, Ontario, and Miramichi, New Brunswick, brings over 45 years of expertise in designing, testing, manufacturing, and supporting a wide array of defence equipment. Their portfolio includes everything from dive shelters to Deployable Fuel Test Laboratories for the RCN. Notably, all DEW products are ITAR-free, making them an ideal partner for the VIGILANCE program.
“We remain fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built, equipped, and sustained in Canada. Modularity and the embarkation of mission payloads is a fundamental principle around which VIGILANCE is designed and thus the ability to manufacture and sustain them right here in Canada is therefore a fundamental element in developing a true sovereign domestic shipbuilding capability. Bringing DEW into the Preferred Suppliers Program is an easy decision given their long-term and successful track record of supplying systems that are critical for enabling RCN mission success. Their partnership with SH Defence is also emblematic of the enduring economic benefit created by the Vigilance program,” expressed Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc.
In collaboration with SH Defence, DEW has signed a Teaming Agreement to serve as a payload supplier and integrator for The Cube™ multi-mission module system, further enhancing VIGILANCE’s operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. This partnership exemplifies the program’s dedication to leveraging the best of Canadian industry to provide the RCN with the modern tools necessary to safeguard Canada’s interests at home and abroad.
“DEW is very pleased to be named a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance. In partnership with SH Defence we are well positioned to promote, design, manufacture and support Cube™ mission modules and to integrate mission payloads into The Cube™ multi-mission module eco-system in Canada for the Canadian marketplace,” said Ian Marsh, president of DEW Engineering and Development ULC.
The VIGILANCE program is not just about delivering advanced capabilities to the RCN; it also represents a significant step forward in developing a strategic capability across the entire shipbuilding value chain in Canada. By integrating trusted Canadian suppliers like DEW into the project, VARD and Team Vigilance are ensuring that the RCN continues to benefit from high-quality, locally sourced components, while also contributing to the growth and sustainability of the Canadian defence industry.