According to foreign media reports, the Canadian Navy has recently received its fifth Harry De Wolf class polar coastal patrol ship, the Frederick Lolette. The report states that this move will strengthen the military operations and support capabilities of the Canadian Navy in the Arctic region. It is reported that Canada issued the National Shipbuilding Strategy document in 2010, proposing a procurement project for polar coastal patrol ships. In 2015, the Canadian government signed a contract worth CAD 4.99 billion (approximately USD 3.6 billion) with its own Owen Shipyard to build six Harry Devof class polar coastal patrol ships for the Canadian Navy. In July 2020, the first "Harry DeWolf" was delivered to the Canadian Navy. Before officially entering service, the "Frederick Lorette" will be transferred to Halifax Naval Base for further evaluation. The report states that the "Frederick Lorette" polar coastal patrol ship has a total length of 103 meters, a full load displacement of 6440 tons, and a maximum speed of 17 knots. The ship can accommodate 80 crew members and carry 2 multifunctional lifeboats, 1 landing craft, 1 vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, 1 snowmobile, etc. Its main tasks include maritime intelligence collection, surveillance and reconnaissance, ocean monitoring, maritime support, search and rescue, etc. for Canada's waters in the Arctic region. In recent years, Canada has focused on militarizing the Arctic region. In the new version of Canada's defense policy document released in April this year, it was proposed to strengthen the foundation of military development by deploying the Northern Operations Support Center network, airborne early warning aircraft fleet, coastal and underwater sensors, Arctic satellite ground stations, new tactical helicopters, etc. in Canada and the Arctic region to enhance the mobility and responsiveness of the military in the Arctic region. In July, the Canadian government announced that it would purchase 12 conventional powered submarines for the navy, requiring them to perform "ice missions" to monitor the country's Northwest Passage, relevant areas in the Arctic region, and other waters. However, foreign media reported in March this year that some Canadian defense officials warned that the Canadian military faced "very serious challenges". On the one hand, military equipment is aging. For example, the Canadian Navy's 12 Halifax class frigates were built in the late 1980s and are about to reach their service life, but the replacement ships just started construction in July this year, so the Navy has not yet proposed a retirement plan for the 12 frigates. Canadian Navy Commander Angus Topsey stated that considering the requirement for new ship combat personnel to receive 3 years of training after service, the lifespan of the Halifax class frigate will be extended by at least 15 years. On the other hand, there is a severe shortage of troops. According to Canadian media reports, there is a shortage of 16000 personnel in the Canadian military, with many branches experiencing a shortage of over 20%. The Canadian military may not be able to smoothly implement plans after 2024. National security official Comer stated that the situation is the result of "decades of sustained underinvestment of funds". Analysis suggests that the development of the Canadian Navy is facing many challenges, and it remains to be seen whether future militarization in the Arctic region can proceed smoothly. (New Society)