The Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit: A Force for Innovation and Collaboration

Members of the Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit showcase collaboration and innovation with the use of an uncrewed air vehicles.

Kelley Stark 
Communications Officer, MARPAC 

— 

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is enhancing its capabilities through the newly established Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit (ANCU), which aims to address emerging maritime threats and push the boundaries of naval technology and tactics. This innovative unit focuses on Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Force Protection Deployed Harbour Defence — including Counter-Uncrewed Systems (Counter UXS) deployed Harbour Defence, and the integration of Uncrewed Air/Surface/Subsurface Systems (UXS).

Formed January 2024, ANCU brought together the Naval Tactical Operations Group, Naval Security Team, and a newer uncrewed systems team into a single, unified entity. Commander (Cdr) Matthew Arthur, who oversees the unit, emphasized the importance of the people behind the transformation. By merging specialized teams, ANCU has been able to expand its existing capabilities and create a unified force to enhance RCN’s UXS capacity. “This would not have been possible without the vision and collaboration of these teams. Their ability to see beyond their individual roles and work together across specializations was key to forming this new unit,” says Cdr Arthur.

The integration allows ANCU to leverage complementary specialties—such as using UXS for Harbour Defence—that were previously unavailable. This supports the RCN’s strategic and operational goals in a rapidly changing maritime environment. The unit’s flexible, deployable tactical teams can be tailored to meet specific mission requirements anywhere in the world.

ANCU’s mission is to provide tactical effects for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and RCN, enhancing maritime security through a combination of innovative equipment, cutting-edge tactics, and specialized training. The unit not only works closely with other Canadian government departments and CAF units, but also partners with international allies to build and strengthen global maritime capabilities.

The unit’s key roles include: delivering tactically excellent teams with specialized skill sets; testing and deploying new technologies; and leading the development of new tactics. Furthermore, ANCU plays a crucial role in training, offering specialized courses to RCN personnel and advancing the Naval Training System.

“Our personnel have been deployed on operations, capacity-building missions, and training exercises in RCN priority regions,” Cdr Arthur said. “I’m particularly proud of our Maritime Tactical Operators who helped partners in the Indo-Asia Pacific region enhance their boarding skills, as well as our mixed teams who demonstrated exceptional performance during Exercise Bold Quest where they successfully streamed uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) data through a Canadian system for processing and analysis.”

In the past year, ANCU has also trained over 75 UAV operators, led UXS working groups, trialed new equipment, and prepared for upcoming Arctic deployments and the development of a counter-UXS force protection model for the fleets.

Looking ahead, the RCN is set to receive several advanced air, surface, and subsurface systems over the next few years that ANCU will test, trial and deploy. Moreover, ANCU is playing a leading role in advancing naval boarding tactics and evolving harbour defence strategies to better meet the RCN’s force protection needs.

The focus isn’t solely on the technology; it’s about developing teams and systems that are flexible, resilient, and capable of adapting to new challenges and facing strong adversaries.

ANCU’s ongoing work is crucial in ensuring the RCN is equipped to safeguard maritime security, both in Canada and internationally.

“The landscape is constantly evolving, and what is cutting-edge today may be outdated tomorrow,” says Cdr Arthur. “ANCU is developing a team that excels at quickly adapting to new equipment, developing the necessary training, and integrating these innovations into operational use.”

As ANCU and its teams look to the future, its readiness to meet unexpected challenges will be key to its continued success. It’s clear that this unit will play a vital role in meeting the RCN’s future challenges, and it will be fascinating to see what comes next.

The Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit provides maritime security through innovative equipment, cutting-edge tactics, and specialized training. Photos provided.