Canada's naval strategy?

[Scott Kenny]

However, I don't like the lack of helo capability (both flight deck and hangar), as there's no telling how big future VTUAVs will become and no ability to act as a lilypad for land-based or ship-based helicopters. More generally, Vigilance is a little too barebones and defensive-minded for my liking. With that kind of sensor and weapons suite I would prefer a stealthier, more combat minded hull that could also have a clear forward deployed role (e.g. Red Sea escort, South China sea patrol) and that could also escort slower task force assets in wartime (e.g. amphibs, supply ships etc).

Agreed, I'd want a helo deck on an OPV, at least a place to land and refuel. Hangar strongly preferred but not required.

The entirety of noncombat missions of an OPV are greatly enhanced by having either a VTUAV or a manned helo/tiltrotor available, with the advantage going to the manned VTOL for search-and-rescue and medevac. Plus, fisheries patrol etc is easier with a helo that most fishing boats don't have a way to track!

 

[TomS]

These ships are supposed to be operating in the high Arctic.

Where are the other BMD radars up there?

There are BMD radars facing the Artic in Thule, Greenland and Clear, Alaska. And in a scenario where they were sending BMD armed patrol ships up there, I'd also expect the Sea-Based X-band Radar and maybe a THAAD TPY-2 radar to be oriented that direction.