The River-class destroyer programme represents one of Canada’s most extensive shipbuilding projects since the Second World War. The ships are expected to contribute to naval operations, including counter-piracy, counterterrorism, intelligence and surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue missions.
BAE Systems, responsible for the ship’s design, will provide consultancy and support services throughout the construction phase. The company’s expertise from the UK’s Type 26 and Australia’s Hunter-class programmes will be leveraged to support ISI in the build process.
Anderson Smith, International Programmes Director at BAE Systems, stated that the contract marks an important phase in the programme, emphasizing the role of industry collaboration in delivering the ships. Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc., described the contract as a milestone for both the company and Canada, acknowledging the efforts of industry and government over the past decade.
With Canada, the UK, and Australia all selecting the Global Combat Ship design, the programme spans three nations and could result in a total fleet of 29 ships.
