The mix of submarines, helicopter-equipped surface ships and maritime patrol aircraft make a highly effective team. Submarines are able to operate in all Canadian waters below 60 degrees North and can also work on the ice edge. In time, with new fuel cell technology, a diesel submarine should be able to work even further north. It is these capabilities that will allow Canada to enforce its new Oceans Act and preserve Canadian sovereignty at sea. A submarine need not be restricted to home waters, it can fulfil the same ocean management role, as part of a multinational force, almost anywhere.
Submarines can also undertake a whole range of scientific research tasks.
There are now over 550 operational submarines in the world, some of which are owned by unpredictable governments, which could easily be a major threat to future UN or other collective operations to restore peace. We saw this in the Adriatic, with Canadian ships, and other surface ships, involved. It is not exaggerating, to say that Canadian ships in the Adriatic were at much more risk from submarines than at any time during the Cold War. Myth 3 - What little submarine activity that takes place today can be monitored from space. Even though the Russians, the Americans, and some of the NATO countries may be operating fewer submarines, the other three dozen or so submarine navies continue to function at their traditional levels which were not a function of the Cold War.