Nova Scotia-based Irving Shipbuilding has accepted a contract to develop the first of 15 River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.
With an initial value of 8 billion Canadian dollars ($5.5 billion), the deal formalized the construction of three initial ships under the program, the “Fraser,” the “Saint-Laurent,” and the “Mackenzie,” for six years.
The terms cover the provision of spare parts, maintenance services, and necessary training to operate and take care of the future vessels.
Work for the three vessels is expected to cost up to 22.2 billion Canadian dollars ($15.4 billion), which will also pay for additional equipment, on-board devices, and ammunition that the surface combatants will use.
Throughout the River-class program’s itinerary, the North American government is expected to produce or sustain more than 5,000 jobs, with the initiative itself to contribute over $500 million annually to the country’s gross domestic product.
Upon commissioning, the River-class ships will take on roles of the navy’s 12 Halifax-class frigates and four Iroquois-class destroyers.
In addition to local operations and their coverage of areas of responsibility across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, the River vessels will assist multinational missions under NORAD, NATO, and the Five Eyes alliance.
“Today’s contract award with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is a true demonstration of our government’s commitment to supporting our domestic shipbuilding industry and to ensuring the Royal Canadian Navy has the modern, world-class capabilities needed to protect our sovereignty, safeguard our waters and defend our interests on the global stage,” Canadian Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated.
Canada’s River-Class Surface Combatant
The River-class destroyer’s hull measures 151 meters (495 feet) and has a beam of 21 meters (69 feet).
It is equipped with combined diesel-electric and gas engines for a range of 7,000 nautical miles (8,055 miles/13,000 kilometers) and a speed of 27 knots (50 kilometers/31 miles per hour).
It will have accommodation for up to 210 personnel as well as facilities for drones, helicopters, small boats, and medical equipment.
Articles that the vessel will also have include naval guns, rotary guns, missiles, torpedoes, and automatic cannons.
The first ship, the HMCS Fraser, is expected to arrive in the early 2030s, while the final, unnamed ship is estimated to be delivered by 2050.
