Judge Arctic patrol ships by their mission

Are Canada's new Arctic patrol ships unfit for purpose?

That depends on the purpose. They fit an Arctic presence mission, while changed threats may justify later defensive upgrades instead of stopping construction and losing the hulls.

A patrol ship should be judged against the mission for which it was ordered. The Harry DeWolf class can perform an Arctic presence role even if a more dangerous environment now makes stronger defences desirable. Redesigning ships during construction can create delay, expense, and lost hulls, so accepting them and modernizing later may be more practical. Denmark's StanFlex approach shows how modular equipment can make adaptation easier.