Canada’s 31-year-old warship sets sail on major overseas deployment

February 2, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

HMCS Charlottetown, the Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate, which entered service in 1995, has set sail from its home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a six-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

As informed, the vessel will take part in multinational exercises Operations HORIZON and NEON.

Operation HORIZON is Canada’s comprehensive military approach to promote peace and stability in support of an international system based on international law in the Indo-Pacific region. The operation is a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea.

HORIZON encompasses broader military activities conducted by the RCN, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Canadian Armed Forces Joint and Combined Space Program, and Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command.

Since 2018, Canada periodically deploys warships, aircraft, and personnel under Operation NEON to strengthen maritime interdiction measures through surveillance operations. This includes identifying suspected maritime sanction evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities, banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

During this deployment, HMCS Charlottetown will showcase the Canadian Navy’s ability to project power across vast ocean spaces while working alongside allies, according to the officials.

“The Indo-Pacific is rapidly becoming the world’s centre of economic growth and strategic importance and many issues that matters to Canadians, from national security and economic prosperity to human rights and environmental protection, can be shaped by our relationships in this region,” Rear Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic & Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic, said.

“This is why the Royal Canadian Navy deploys warships annually to work alongside our allies and partners in the region. I commend the sailors of HMCS Charlottetown for their dedication and professionalism in training and preparing for this deployment, and I am sure they will represent Canada well during their important mission.”

“HMCS Charlottetown’s deployment demonstrates Canada’s unwavering commitment to working with our allies and partners to uphold peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. The ship’s company of HMCS Charlottetown has been working hard to prepare for both Operation HORIZON and Operation NEON and is proud to represent Canada on the world stage and contribute to a safer, more stable region,” Commander Jonathan Maurice, Commanding Officer HMCS Charlottetown, stated.

HMCS Charlottetown is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of approximately 240 personnel comprising RCN sailors as well as RCAF aviators to fly and support the ship’s embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter.

Canadian, Danish boarding teams train on HMCS Charlottetown

Authorities

Commissioned in 1995, the vessel is the third Canadian ship to bear the name, honoring Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Over its service life, Charlottetown has undergone extensive modernization, ensuring it remains capable in modern naval warfare.