Full rate production begins on Royal Canadian Navy's River-class destroyers

Canada's Irving Shipbuilding has commenced full rate production of the Royal Canadian Navy's new River-class destroyers.

Construction of the class began at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax facilities in Nova Scotia in July 2024. Delivery of class lead ship HMCS Fraser is scheduled for the early 2030s, while the 15th and final ship is expected to 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 for their respective navies.

The River-class ships will each have a length of 151 metres, a beam of 21 metres, a displacement of 8,000 tonnes, a combined diesel-electric or gas propulsion arrangement, and a crew complement of 210.

Armament on each ship will include a 127mm naval gun, two 30mm autocannons, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, and torpedoes. A flight deck will be available for use by a CH-148 Cyclone anti-submarine helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicles.

The official NATO ship designator for the River-class vessels will be DDGH – destroyer (DD), guided (G) missile, helicopter (H) capable.