Canada plans to spend billions of dollars on new patrol ships, polar satellites, transport upgrade, and winter gear for its troops amid rising demands for the Arctic’s riches.

In line with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s vow to boost the country’s footprint in the Arctic in a bid to spur its economic growth, the Conservative government has announced a multi-billion dollar budget to purchase everything from naval ships to weather satellites, US-based Defense News reported this week.  

According to the report, on top of the shopping list are five new patrol ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, which will be outfitted with Lockheed Martin avionics at a cost of CAN $3.5 billion ($3.4 billion), as well as up to $50 million in technical upgrades for the Air Force’s CC-138 transport aircraft.

Additionally, five ships will be constructed by Irving Shipbuilding of Canada, while Lockheed Martin will build and install on-board combat systems.

The Canadian military also plans to augment its communication with the Arctic through construction of two polar communications and weather satellites, estimated to cost $1.5 billion.

Moreover, Ottawa is looking to enhance its Arctic surveillance capabilities, especially since it is not the only country vying for a slice of the Arctic riches. The system, dubbed Polar Epsilon 2, will utilize ground systems to collect and process data from the three RCM satellites, due to be delivered by Lockheed Martin by the year 2020.

The US Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic contains 30 percent of the world's untapped natural gas and 15 percent of its oil, with the majority of resources located offshore.

Competition among the five nations bordering  the Arctic Ocean – Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the US – has intensified since the onset of global warming and the thawing of the ice caps.

MFB/NT/AS