# Canadian naval deployments in Arctic and Indo-Pacific

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/canadian-naval-deployments-in-arctic-and-indo-pacific
> Updated: 2026-10-09T23:35:01.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Royal Canadian Navy has completed two significant maritime deployments involving Arctic and Indo-Pacific operations under frameworks such as Operation Latitude.

In late September, the HMCS Max Bernays returned to CFB Esquimalt following an 84-day mission in the Arctic and northern Pacific. The deployment, part of Operation Latitude, focused on surveillance and interoperability with the United States Navy and US Coast Guard in areas like the Bering Sea. The mission included 19 consecutive days of icebreaking and the first beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations using an Aerosonde Mk. 4 aboard a Harry DeWolf-class vessel.

Following this, the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa returned to CFB Esquimalt on October 9 after a four-month deployment. This mission encompassed the Indo-Pacific and Arctic oceans, involving participation in the Rim of the Pacific exercise and operations such as Operation Horizon and Operation Latitude. The crew conducted sovereignty patrols, anti-submarine training, and simulated strikes alongside the U.S. Air Force in the Bering Sea, while also engaging with international partners in locations such as Yokosuka and Busan to strengthen military-to-military relations.

## Claims

- The value of the deployment was centered on building military-to-military relations. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The deployment lasted approximately 130 days or four months. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The ship’s crew consisted of approximately 245 to 250 Canadian Armed Forces members. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- HMCS Ottawa returned to CFB Esquimalt on October 9, 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The vessel participated in the Rim of the Pacific exercise near Hawaii in June. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The ship conducted Operation Horizon in the Indo-Pacific. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The ship conducted Operation Latitude in the Bering Sea. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The crew performed simulated strikes with the U.S. Air Force during the deployment. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-09: HMCS Ottawa returns to CFB Esquimalt after four-month deployment

The Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa has returned to CFB Esquimalt after a four-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific and Arctic, conducting joint exercises and sovereignty patrols.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hmcs-ottawa-returns-to-cfb-esquimalt-after-four-month-deployment

### 2026-09-27: HMCS Max Bernays returns to Esquimalt after Arctic deployment

HMCS Max Bernays has returned to Esquimalt after an 84-day Arctic deployment, marking record-setting icebreaking and the Royal Canadian Navy’s first beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations since 2014.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hmcs-max-bernays-returns-to-esquimalt-after-arctic-deployment

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Cite as: Canadian naval deployments in Arctic and Indo-Pacific. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/canadian-naval-deployments-in-arctic-and-indo-pacific