BAE and Irving Sign Contract for Canada’s New Class Destroyers

A new contract has been signed between BAE Systems and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI), marking a significant step forward in Canada’s River-class destroyer programme. This represents the largest and most complex naval shipbuilding project undertaken in Canada since the Second World War. The agreement follows the Canadian Government’s award of an implementation contract to ISI for the first three of 15 planned warships, along with comprehensive training, spares, and maintenance support packages.

The Future Backbone of Canada’s Naval Fleet

The River-class destroyers will form the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet, providing decisive combat power for naval operations and joint-force missions ashore. This multi-billion-dollar programme aims to equip Canada’s armed forces with cutting-edge capabilities, ensuring readiness for a wide range of missions including counter-piracy, counterterrorism, intelligence and surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and search-and-rescue operations.

Technical Expertise and International Collaboration

BAE Systems, which designed the destroyers to meet Canadian requirements, will provide technical support and consultancy services throughout the build phase. This arrangement allows Irving Shipbuilding to leverage expertise gained from the UK’s Type 26 programme and Australia’s Hunter-class frigates. The partnership represents a significant transfer of knowledge and technology between allied nations.

Industry Leaders Highlight Strategic Importance

“This contract marks a significant moment for the River-class destroyer programme, and I’m hugely proud of our team for their collective hard work and determination to bring us to this point. As we move into this next phase, our expertise and collaboration with our industry partners will be key to delivering a world-class capability for Canada.”

Anderson Smith, International Programmes Director at BAE Systems, described the contract as a major milestone:

Also read this: Irving Wins $22B Contract for Canadian Navy Warships

Economic Impact and Manufacturing Details

The River-class programme is part of a multi-national effort between Canada, the UK, and Australia, all of whom have selected BAE Systems’ Global Combat Ship design for their future fleets. In total, the collaboration covers the construction of up to 29 ships across the three nations. The 15 River-class destroyers will be constructed at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax yard in Nova Scotia, with BAE Systems’ naval shipbuilding team in Glasgow providing production support. BAE Systems already employs nearly 500 people on the project and expects to have up to 200 personnel based in Canada during the programme’s peak.

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