Fincantieri subsidiary WASS Submarine Systems and Canadian aerospace manufacturer Magellan Aerospace have signed an agreement to evaluate cooperation in heavyweight torpedo and torpedo countermeasure programs.
Unveiled at CANSEC 2026 in Ottawa, the initiative aims to increase Canadian industrial participation in underwater defense programs.
Areas under consideration include component manufacturing, subassemblies, final assembly, factory testing, and maintenance activities.
WASS would contribute expertise in heavyweight torpedoes and other underwater defense technologies, while Magellan would provide its existing manufacturing infrastructure and industrial presence in Canada.
“The agreement provides a foundation for progressive cooperation between the two companies, contributing to the development of a sustainable and competitive industrial capability in Canada across the lifecycle of underwater defense systems,” stated WASS Submarine Systems.
Growing Emphasis on Domestic Defense Capability
The agreement aligns with Ottawa’s broader push to strengthen underwater warfare capabilities while expanding domestic industrial capacity.
In February, the Royal Canadian Navy tested the MK 54 lightweight torpedo as part of efforts to modernize its anti-submarine warfare arsenal.
Last year, a South Korean delegation promoted submarine and other defense platforms to Canadian officials while offering local maintenance facilities and broader technology transfer arrangements aimed at expanding in-country industrial capabilities.
Similar initiative aimed at increasing local manufacturing and support capabilities have been underway for several years.
In 2024, UK defense company Systems Engineering & Assessment secured a $19 million contract to deliver lightweight Torpedo Launch Systems for a Royal Canadian Navy vessel program, with production to be handled by the company’s Canadian subsidiary.
