The Royal Canadian Navy is actively considering how to replace its aging submarine fleet in what promises to be a daunting logistical and financial challenge. Earlier this month, defence officials told The Canadian Press that a team is being created to inform the government on a potential replacement class of patrol submarines. David Perry, VP and senior analyst for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, believes it’s “long past time” Canada examined replacing the fleet, but noted that it will not be easy. “Submarine construction is an engineering challenge that requires a specialized skill set that gets more difficult even over and above regular shipbuilding,” Perry said in an interview. “I don’t believe that the skill sets, the people, the expertise in doing that kind of acquisition are in the government of Canada right now. So they [should access this] by hiring people on the market or trying to get it through …