Irving Shipbuilding has begun construction of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Surface Combatants (CSC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The development is part of Ottawa’s objective to produce 15 modern warships based on BAE Systems’ Type 26 City-class ship design and replace the navy‘s existing Halifax-class frigates and Iroquois-class guided missile destroyers.
Irving wrote in a press release that the construction phase will start on the CSC’s production test module, which will enable the company and the government to evaluate, streamline, and implement processes to full-rate production in 2025.
River-Class Destroyers
During the ceremony, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair and Royal Canadian Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee revealed that the CSCs will be designated as River-class destroyers.
The first three ships will be named HMCS Fraser, Saint-Laurent, and Mackenzie as a tribute to the country’s critical waterways to the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic oceans and previously commissioned vessels with the same names that have sailed in wartime.
“The selection of an official name for our highly capable destroyers is an exciting moment for the RCN and perfectly timed as today marks the very beginnings of the construction process for the River-class – a clear sign of tangible progress towards our future fleet,” Topshee remarked.
“The River-class embodies the waterways which are the veins and arteries of our nation and celebrates some of the great ships from the RCN’s history.”
‘Largest’ Project Since World War II
According to Canada, the CSC program will support approximately 10,800 jobs per year across the country throughout the effort’s 25-year itinerary.
Part of the design phase will create or maintain about 5,000 jobs, while the overall initiative is expected to generate 40 billion Canadian dollars ($29.2 billion) in cumulative gross domestic product.
“Today, we launch construction on the largest Canadian shipbuilding project since the Second World War, marking an historic milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy,” Blair stated during the event.
“The River-class destroyers will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools that they need to defend our national interests for decades to come – and ensure that Canada can deploy a state-of-the-art, combat-ready fleet of warships to defend our country and support our allies.”
“As we invest in this new fleet, we are also supporting Canada’s shipbuilding industry and thousands of well-paying, skilled jobs. Bravo Zulu to everyone who has helped us reach this important day.”
Canadian Surface Combatant Specifications
The River-class CSC will have a beam of 20.75 meters (68.1 feet) and an overall length of 151.4 meters (496.9 feet).
It will run with diesel-electric and gas engines for a speed up to 27 knots (50 kilometers/31 miles per hour) and a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 kilometers).
The vessel will be able to carry approximately 210 personnel and incorporate spaces for helicopters, drones, support boats, and medical facilities.
Weapons selected for the destroyer include naval and machine guns, torpedoes, missiles, and autocannons.
The first CSC vessel, the HMCS Fraser, will be completed in the early 2030s, while the final ship is scheduled to arrive by 2050.