Canadian Government selects Nova Scotia shipyard to build new destroyers

The Canadian Government has awarded Irving Shipbuilding of Nova Scotia a contract for the construction of three River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.

With an initial value of CA$8 billion (US$6 billion) intended to fund the first six years of construction, the contract supports the construction and delivery of the initial three ships as well as the development and delivery of necessary training, spares, and maintenance products required to operate and support the ships in service.

Full rate production of the River-class destroyers is scheduled to start in 2025. Delivery of class lead ship HMCS Fraser is scheduled in the early 2030s, while the final ship will be handed over by 2050.

The vessels will be based on BAE Systems' Type 26 Global Combat Ship design, examples of which are being built by the United Kingdom and Australia. The ships will have enhanced underwater sensors, state-of-the-art radar, and modern weapons.

The official NATO Ship Designator for the River-class warship will be DDGH – a destroyer (DD), guided (G) missile, helicopter (H) capable. The River-class will replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class frigates.