Canadian Navy frigate fires torpedo during major Pacific naval exercise

July 16, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) has conducted a torpedo firing exercise during the sea phase of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, demonstrating the ship’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities in one of the world’s largest multinational maritime exercises.

The Halifax-class frigate launched a torpedo on July 7 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii as part of a simulated combat scenario designed to provide sailors with realistic training in detecting and engaging underwater threats.

The firing also marked an important operational test for the ship’s newly installed Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU), an advanced underwater sensor and processing system developed to enhance the Royal Canadian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The UWSU upgrade equips Halifax-class frigates with improved sonar technology and enhanced data processing systems, enabling crews to detect and track quieter underwater targets at greater ranges while improving overall underwater situational awareness.

The torpedo firing took place during RIMPAC 2026, which involves 30 nations, more than 30 surface ships, five submarines, over 200 aircraft and approximately 30,000 personnel operating around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31.

The exercise provides participating navies with an opportunity to conduct complex maritime operations, strengthen interoperability and refine capabilities required to maintain security across the world’s oceans.

The Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates are being upgraded through the UWSU program led by General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, in partnership with Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems and Nautel, to deliver a modernized underwater warfare capability for Canada’s fleet.

The successful torpedo firing highlights the continued modernization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s surface combatants and the growing importance of advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities in increasingly contested maritime environments.

Watch the video of HMCS Ottawa conducting the torpedo firing exercise during RIMPAC 2026 here.